Call to remove sanctions

GWERU – A number of stakeholders in the Midlands Province have called on the West and its allies
to remove illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Midlands Province SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, the stakeholders who
included business people, women and students said sanctions never benefit anyone.
Young Women for Economic Development chairperson for Midlands Dorcas Masango said the
sanctions were affecting their businesses.
“If we try and venture into business sanctions affect us. The West and its allies should
unconditionally remove the sanctions because they are a burden on us,” Masango said.
Costain Mukanganiki, a land developer in Gweru said the whole SADC in its wisdom saw it fit that
they declare a regional day to denounce sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
“These sanctions have impacted heavily on the economic environment in the country. Our industry
was starved on the much-needed foreign currency to retool as well as to create more employment.
“The influx of the informal sector is due to this starvation of foreign currency and so these sanctions
are evil and not targeted as purported,” he said.
Mukanganiki said sanctions are affecting the ordinary people in the country including school
children.
Amanda Sorota, a member of the business community said sanctions had affected them as they can
no longer trade freely.
“Some trade floors were closed due to sanctions and there are countries we can no longer trade
with which is now slowing domestic trade systems in Zimbabwe,” Sorota said.
She said sanctions result in economic frustration thereby increasing gender-based violence.
Sorota said she is happy that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had put in place sanctions busting
strategies which had resulted in the country continuing on the development trajectory.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube, said sanctions have hurt the
economy and livelihoods of ordinary people and violet the rights of Zimbabweans to engage in
economic development.
He said the American legislation, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act as
absolutely nothing to with Zimbabwe's economic recovery but retaliatory measure following our
successful land reform programme that empowered previously marginalised indigenous
Zimbabweans.