By Derick Tsimba
Zimbabwe has continued to operate its economy under challenging conditions emanating from its exclusion from the international community ever since it was placed under sanctions by the West. This has caused the economy of the country to be excluded from benefits associated with international trade resulting in derailment of the country’s economic progress.
Recently, the President of South Africa, Cecil Ramaphosa, while attending the 49th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland said Zimbabwe’s economy was being subdued by these harsh economic sanctions largely affecting its economic growth.
In his words President Ramaphosa articulated the trying journey, the country had travelled under the former President Robert Mugabe, which changed in 2017 and saw Zimbabwe coming out of a very complicated socio-economical-political state of affairs. The situation is now looking hopeful after the recent elections which were peaceful and transparent resulting in the election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The election of a new Government with a different trajectory has given SADC and AU heads of state the impetus to lobby for the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
The voice of Africans must be heard by the West, South Africa which is Zimbabwe’s neighbour and trading partner has continued to call on the United States of America to lift the sanctions. In 2018 according to The Herald President Ramaphosa also called on the European Union (EU) to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe since the country had taken a magnificent step and needed much support on its course to implement vast economic reforms. The removal of Zimbabwe on these countries sanctions list will ensures that Zimbabwe’s new Government is given an enabling environment to develop its economic sectors for the betterment of its people’s lives.
Lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe has the potential to redress the economic challenges the country has endued since 1999. The supposed “targeted sanctions” by the West have not only affected the ordinary Zimbabweans and the business community but also they adverse effects have been felt in the SADC region as a whole.
The fight against Zimbabwean sanctions is no longer a fight for Zimbabwe alone. Sanctions hinder the development of SADC and Africa as a whole. As African nations we have been colonized and robbed by the same nations who impose sanctions on our poor economies hampering development in our efforts to catch up with other developed countries.
It’s perplexing that the MDC Alliance on its quest for power has been part of the sanctions matrix. MDC Alliance must be condemned for taking sides with our tormentors by supporting and continuously inviting these immoral sanctions which are a violation to our human rights. Non-Governmental Organizations to date continue to be funded by the Western Countries to agitate violent demonstrations characterised by destruction and looting of private sector business in support of the MDC Alliance. All these actions are an effort to portray Zimbabwe as a country that is chaotic, unstable and undemocratic further worsening the Zimbabwean economic plight.
Sanctions have failed to unseat a duly elected government for close to two decades now, it’s time they are removed sans conditionalities.
