Staff Reporter
Zimbabwean legislators yesterday called for the unconditional and immediate removal of the illegal sanctions imposed by the US and its Western allies.
In a statement, the Parliamentarians who are currently attending the National Pre-Budget Seminar in Victoria Falls, described sanctions as a tool for coercion and said they had no place in modern societies.
“These calls for the removal of sanctions have become a rallying clarion in galvanising the international community against unilateralism, unipolarism and heavy handedness by superpowers. Sanctions are a tool of coercion and they have no place in modern society, especially in the community of independent nations,” reads the statement.
The legislators added that sanctions were affecting various sectors of the economy causing slow growth of the country’s industries.
“Clearly, sanctions are real and are undermining progress on many fronts of the economy while at the same time retarding the growth that has been witnessed in several spheres. Within the economic sector, the private sector is either failing to secure capital for retooling or is getting it at high premium thereby making the sector very uncompetitive,” said the legislators.
The Parliamentarians added that sanctions have hampered the country’s efforts to access international markets and international credit and this has led to massive unemployment, poverty and misery.
The legislators said the unconditional and immediate removal of sanctions will pave way for the full recovery of the country’s economy, whilst allowing the country to freely access much-needed foreign currency from international financial markets. The Parliamentarians added that the unjustified mantainence of the sanctions has undermined progress made by the country’s political leaders towards national integration, peace and unity.
Meanwhile, yesterday SADC and other progressive forces joined the country in calling for the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe. The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe yesterday tweeted that “unilateral sanctions violate international law, sovereign equality, human rights and hurt the people. 13 years ago, China said NO for Zimbabwe. Today we continue to call for complete and immediate lifting of all unilateral coercive measures.”
This year’s third anniversary of the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day was commemorated under the theme, “Friend to all, enemy to none: Forging ahead and enhancing innovation and productivity in adversity of sanctions.”
