By Gift Mashoko
SADC countries have declared October 25 as solidarity day against illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. This came out in a communiqué at the 39th SADC Summit of the Heads of State and Government that was read out at the close of the high-level meeting in Tanzania recently.
The SADC Secretariat has also been tasked to escalate the lobby with the current African Union (AU) Chairperson, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who will be expected to raise the issue at the upcoming 74th United Nations General Assembly in September this year. This goes to show how serious the Region is in the fight against these sanctions and that they are speaking with one voice with Zimbabwe.
In the communiqué, SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax said, “Summit noted the adverse impact on the economy of Zimbabwe and the region at large of prolonged economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and expressed solidarity with Zimbabwe, and called for the immediate lifting of sanctions to facilitate socio-economic recovery in the country”.
Tax said the 25th of October was set for SADC member states to collectively voice their disapproval of sanctions through various activities and platforms until the sanctions were lifted. Showing the brotherly and sisterly love African member states are showing that, that which affects one, affects all.
New SADC Chairperson, Tanzanian President Dr John Magufuli highlighted that the sanctions have affected the people of Zimbabwe, the Government and the region. He further called for the removal of these sanctions on Zimbabwe considering that Zimbabwe had opened its doors to investors and that it is on an engagement and re-engagement drive. He further encouraged other SADC member states to speak with one voice for the sanctions imposed upon Zimbabwe to be removed.
This move by SADC is welcome and was long overdue as it shows that Africa is united and its development is premised on walking as one continent in dealing with our challenges.
The Anti-Sanctions Day is necessary as the Western countries seem to be enjoying imposing sanctions on weaker countries in a bid to break them into line, a development Africa is now realising that this can happen to any of them.
Sanctions have devastated the economy and lives of the ordinary citizen and its effects have been felt in other neighbouring SADC countries who are being forced to take economic refugees from Zimbabwe, also impacting on their developmental path.
It is, therefore, imperative that everyone denounces these illegal sanctions, for the country to become an upper middle economy by 2030, as envisaged by the new dispensation.
It’s amazing how the opposition MDC has been calling for the further imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe, a stance which probably have made SADC leaders not to give any ear to the western-backed opposition.
MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa is reluctant to speak against these sanctions and his actions show that he is in support of these sanctions as he sees them as a means to a regime change agenda, the party has been harbouring since they assisted in their drafting. Zimbabwe Democratic Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA), was crafted by the USA with the help of MDC Co-Vice President, Tendai Biti.
Zimbabwe is failing to move forward because of people like Biti, these types of people claim to be its citizens and want to enjoy all the rights, but on the other hand being hostile to their home country.
Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni also called for the more sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe showing that he is not in any way concerned about the wellbeing of the nation and its citizens. He should have been exemplary as a Chief doing developmental work in his community, but instead he has now turned political calling for sanctions that make people suffer.
These anti-Zimbabwe persons should be ashamed of themselves as it has now been left to non-Zimbabweans to speak out on the sanctions and acknowledge their devastating effects when they themselves have failed to do so.
Sanctions have affected Zimbabwe in almost all sectors and it is quite commendable that SADC has come in calling for this anti-sanctions day for Zimbabwe.
All progressive Zimbabweans should join this bandwagon of calling for the removal of the devastating sanctions.
