Staff Reporter
Calls for the complete removal of sanctions imposed on the country by the American government have intensified, with Zimbabweans decrying the adverse effects on the nation's populace and economy.
The growing clamour for the total removal of the illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe follows yesterday's announcement by the American government of adjustments to the sanctions regime imposed on the country.
ZANU PF's Director for Information, Farai Muroiwa Marapira, took to X (formerly Twitter) and underscored the detrimental impact of the illegal sanctions, describing them as an unjust burden on Zimbabwe's shoulders.
" President of Zimbabwe, @edmnangagwa’s policy of being a friend to all and an enemy to none and having our doors open to all has yielded bittersweet results with the newest sanctions regime released by the US Government. Indeed, many juristic and natural persons have been removed, but if the President (Mnangagwa), the First Lady (Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa), and senior officials remain sanctioned, then Zimbabwe remains sanctioned and burdened by this illegality. We still call for all sanctions to be removed unequivocally. Only then are we free of this yoke unfairly put on our shoulders,” said Marapira.
However, sentiments within Zimbabwe vary on the approach to sanctions removal.
Shorai Moyo of Glenview 7 in Harare argued that sanctions should not be lifted incrementally but rather in their entirety.
"Sanctions should not be removed in bits and pieces. We need them to be totally and unconditionally removed to allow our country to function without hindrances," Moyo asserted.
Similarly, Edion Chenjera of Mazowe criticised what he termed "piecemeal adjustments" to the sanctions regime.
"There is nothing to celebrate as long as President Mnangagwa remains on the sanctions list. The current approach only perpetuates the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans," Chenjera remarked.
Adding to the chorus of discontent, Precious Marungisa condemned what she perceived as American insincerity.
"The American government must not hoodwink Zimbabweans into believing that they care for us while they refuse to remove sanctions entirely," Marungisa asserted, highlighting the disillusionment among some Zimbabweans regarding Western policies towards their nation.
Meanwhile, the illegal sanctions were initially imposed on the country in 2001 as some Western nations retaliated against the country's land reform programme, which redistributed land to millions of black Zimbabweans.
Despite calls for their removal over the years, sanctions have remained a contentious issue, with the majority of Zimbabweans decrying their humanitarian toll and adverse economic repercussions.
