Sadc ambassadors intensify calls for sanctions removal

Harare(New Ziana)-Sanctions that the European Union and the United States imposed on Zimbabwe should be lifted because they are hurting the entire Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region, ambassadors accredited to Harare said on Friday.

At its annual meeting in Tanzania in August this year, (SADC) agreed to collectively lobby for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and designated October 25 as the day when each member country would out activities to denounce the embargo.

The Zimbabwe government then declared October 25, 2019 a public holiday to mark Sadc’s solidarity against illegal Western sanctions on the country.

In a solidarity message delivered at the main event to mark the inaugural anti- sanctions day, Sadc dean of diplomats and ambassador of Mozambique to Zimbabwe Francisco Cigarro denounced the embargo.

“As Sadc ambassadors we have witnessed firsthand the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe as a result of sanctions. As Sadc countries, we call for the removal of all forms of sanctions on Zimbabwe,” he said.

Cigarro said sanctions had hampered Zimbabwe from implementing its development agenda.

“Far from the claims that sanctions are targeted at a few individuals, the reality on the ground is being felt by the whole country,” he said.

In a speech read on his behalf, SADC chair, Tanzanian President John Magufuli said the regional bloc continued to express disapproval against sanctions on Zimbabwe until they were removed.

“We call for the immediate lifting of the sanctions to facilitate social and economic recovery in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Tanzania, said, President Magufuli, would continue to support calls for the removal of sanctions.

“Tanzania will continue to support this position and other initiatives will be through engaging international community on how best they can support the idea of lifting Zimbabwe sanctions.

“Tanzania is also calling other Sadc member states to continue to stand together to ensure sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are removed as soon as possible,” he said.

The US and the EU imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in the early 2000 to force the government to abandon its land reforms, under which it compulsorily acquired prime agricultural land from the minority whites to resettle the landless black majority.

New Ziana