This year’s event was held under the theme “Harnessing the Youth for accelerated Socio-Economic Development in the Fight against Sanctions”, and was hosted by Mashonaland East Province in partnership with the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.
Addressing the church fraternity, Government officials, ruling party affiliates and Mutoko residents, the Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Apollonia Munzverengi said that Mashonaland East Province called for the unconditional removal of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
“As the Province we rally behind Vision 2030 proclaimed by his Excellency President of this Great Nation, Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa, for national prosperity. We demand the unconditional removal of the illegal sanctions. We are aware that the sanctions affect our national development. Our people at grassroots levels are the most affected by the sanctions.
“For Mashonaland East as a province, the call for the unconditional removal of sanctions assumes even greater importance. It is not just a solidarity call but also a clarion call for justice, fairness and enjoyment of human rights. The sanctions that have militated against our local economic development must be removed today,” said Minister Munzverengi.
Additionally, Minister Munzverengi said that the illegal sanctions imposed against Zimbabweans are causing untold suffering to the country and called for the citizens to unite in fighting the punitive measures.
“For a generation now, we continue to be under the leash of our detractors. These sanctions are meant to undermine the sovereign will of the Zimbabwean people. I call upon the church, business community, students and all the other pillars of our society to call for the sanctions to fall. This message of the anti-sanctions march is meant to speak to the conscience of makers of sanctions to repent from the evil they have inflicted to our people,” she said.
“Fellow citizens, we hope this march will also appeal to the United Nations to persuade those imposing sanctions to change their position. As a country we remain steadfast, we will soldier on, as we promote the “Nyika inovakwa Nevene wayo, brick by brick,” mantra. Mashonaland East will continue to think outside the box, and continuously guarantee competitiveness,” said Minister Munzverengi.
The event was also attended by the Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Tamer Almassri, who joined Zimbabweans in calling for the unconditional removal of the illegal sanctions by marching in Mutoko.
