By Rudo Saungweme.

In preparation for the Anti-Sanction Day this Friday, Zanu PF Youth League has today held a discussion on the effects of sanctions on youth and emerging business in Zimbabwe.

Youths who participated in the discussion thunderously called for the total removal of sanctions indicating that they have caused untold suffering to ordinary Zimbabweans.

Youths in mining industry stated that they were now incapacitated because the Government which used to fund it was crippled by Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) which closed international lines of credit. The youths said that Zimbabwe had the resources but sanctions were hindering its potential.

"We have all the resources we need to develop but sanctions are infringing our potential. Our Government is now incapacitated because of these sanctions. The sanctions are isolating us from potential international markets.

"The sanctions restricted us from trading with other countries. We are now relying on middlemen to sell our minerals. These middlemen buy our minerals at a give-away price just because we are desperate for buyers. Our minerals no longer attract the potential buyers.

"As a result, our minerals are depleting whilst profits are being exported to other countries with these middlemen,” said Kundai Hwenha a youth in the mining sector.

The youths highlighted that the sanctions are affecting everyone in the country and it has resulted in unwanted pregnancies, early childhood and prostitution in youths due to poverty.

Sanctions were imposed on Zimbabwe in 2002 following the land reform programme which Harare implemented to right the century-long imbalance in land ownership. The US had to unilaterally impose sanctions on Zimbabwe without consulting the United Nations (UN), making the sanctions illegal.

The SADC countries will join hands with Zimbabwe this Friday on a march against the sanctions.