Staff Reporter
The UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive sanctions on the people of Zimbabwe, Dr Alena Douhan, is expected to land at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport this morning.
Dr Douhan will be in the country from today until the 28th of this month and will collect information and hold a series of meetings with government authorities and other stakeholders to ascertain the impact of the illegal sanctions imposed by America and European Union on Zimbabwe.
Confirming Dr Douhan’s visit, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, tweeted that the UN Special Rapporteur was visiting the country today and he urged all stakeholders to speak with one voice against sanctions.
“Ms Elena Douhan, the UN Special Envoy on Human Rights will be in the country from tomorrow (today) to assess the impact of the illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe. There is no question on the deleterious impact of sanctions on this country. Let’s all speak with one voice on #ZimSanctionsMustGo,” tweeted Mangwana.
Twitter user, @Jamwanda2, who is believed to be the deputy Chief Secretary-Presidential Communications, George Charamba, also said that Dr Douhan will have a meeting with President Mnangagwa today.
“Tomorrow (today) morning, the President (Mnangagwa) meets the UN Rapporteur. All is set,” said Charamba.
Jamwanda added that last week’s insinuations that Nelson Chamisa’s convoy was blocked in Masvingo, were just political antics meant to deflect the world’s attention on the illegal sanctions.
“All the pseudo-events of last week were meant to pre empty or reshape the narrative and focus on damaging sanctions which both the UN Rapporteur and SADC will highlight this week and beyond,” tweeted Jamwanda.
The visiting Dr Douhan is expected to present a public report on her findings at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council in September next year.
The visit by the UN Special Rapporteur is coming when the country is preparing to commemorate the third SADC Anti-sanctions Day, which is held on the 25th October annually. Analysts have asserted that the country has lost over US$40 billion due to the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West.
