By Nobleman Runyanga
The United States Embassy in Zimbabwe torched a storm on the social media yesterday when it attempted to deflect the responsibility for the suffering of Zimbabweans through sanctions when it attempted to blame the Government of Zimbabwe for pursuing harmful policies.
“Many years of harmful policies, not U.S. sanctions, have led to Zimbabwe’s current economic challenges. We recognize Zimbabwe is making difficult economic decisions with limited resources in order to improve Zimbabwe’s trajectory. We stand with Zimbabwe since 1980,” tweeted the embassy.
This did not go down well with many Zimbabwean netizens who did not mince their words in their responses.
“If we are to mention harmful policies, let’s start (by) mentioning sanctions because there is no policy that can harm a country like what sanctions are doing,” tweeted Chido Chiriwuta
“It’s scandalous for you to claim that the Zimbabwean crisis is 100 percent the responsibility of the Zimbabwean Government. So you purport (that) your sanctions are of 'negligible' or 'have zero effect' on the devastation that visited Zimbabwe? (Contrary to your claims,) you stand against Zimbabwe,” responded Vusi Nyamazana.
“Just remove the sanctions and see what Zimbabwe will turn into with those limited resources. Sanctions are an impediment to economic development of this nation,” tweeted Mirirai Utsanana.
“Show sincerity by removing sanctions. We can’t move while our hands are tied at the back. Give Zimbabwe a chance to improve its economy,” said a netizen who only identified herself as Lizwe.
When the pro-West and pro-opposition group Team Pachedu attempted to fight from the Americans’ corner by tweeting that the sanctions were not standing in the way of Zimbabwe’s economic growth and that they did not bar other countries from assisting the country, social media users were not amused.
“Actually they do. The US controls the international finance system. No one wants to cross the US’ path when it comes to breaking the US set rules on the international payment system. The European (EU) now understands that it’s not good for their interests,” responded Bongani Chipare.
The American Embassy also angered Zimbabweans by claiming that since 1980, the American government had committed US$3 billion in the country in areas such as health, food security, economic resilience and democratic governance.
“We don’t need aid. Remove the sanctions and let us freely fend for ourselves,” responded Kudzanayi Sharara.
“We don't care about your $3 billion aid. Remove your sanctions, period. Or close your embassy moenda kusina (move to another country which you feel has no) threat,” tweeted Gift Mupiwa.
