By Pemphero Malimba:
At least six Southern African Development Community (Sadc) member states have called for the removal of sanctions and other punitive measures that some countries and organisations imposed on Zimbabwe.
This transpired in Lilongwe Wednesday during commemorations marking Sadc Anti-Sanctions Day.
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At the event, representatives of Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe signed a joint statement aimed at amplifying the call.
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Among other things, the countries believe that removing the sanctions may alleviate economic challenges that people of Zimbabwe are facing.
Zimbabwean High Commissioner to Malawi Nancy Saungweme said the sanctions, which target various sectors, have had a negative bearing on the vulnerable people of Zimbabwe.
“The sanctions have targeted key sectors of our economy, including agriculture, health and education, crippling our ability to provide essential services to citizens.
“They [sanction imposers] have restricted our access to international markets, stifled foreign investment and limited our capacity to engage in trade. As a result, the livelihoods of countless Zimbabweans have been jeopardised and our nation has been deprived of the resources necessary to build a prosperous future,” Saungweme said.
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She said many Zimbabweans were languishing in poverty owing to the sanctions.
“They (sanctions) have perpetuated poverty, inequality and social unrest, undermining the progress we, as a nation, have made.
“The consequences of these measures are felt most acutely by the vulnerable and marginalised members of our society, who bear the brunt of the economic hardships imposed upon us,” Saungweme said.
Weighing in on the issue, South African High Commissioner to Malawi Yvette Myakayaka Manzini said removing the sanctions was crucial as Sadc member states were also facing negative impacts of the vice.
“We are calling them illegal sanctions because they are affecting the people and not only the people of Zimbabwe but the people of southern Africa, where Zimbabweans had to leave their country and go to neighbouring countries like South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania to seek employment and be able to live,” Manzini said.
Zimbabwe has faced 24 years of sanctions from various countries such as the United States of America bordering on issues such as corruption and human rights abuse.
The day is traditionally observed on October 25 to raise awareness about sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
This year, the day was held under the theme ‘Embracing Innovation towards Vision 2030: The relentless Fight against Illegal Sanctions’.
