HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa Thursday took advantage of his incumbency as SADC chairman to make a routine but ever unyielding call for the scrapping of sanctions imposed by the United States on Zimbabwe’s ruling elites.
In a statement to mark the anti-sanctions day designated by SADC in solidarity with Zimbabwe some few years ago, Mnangagwa described the measures as cruel, insisting they were hurting ordinary Zimbabweans the most.
“I wish to echo the unrelenting voices and pleas by the outgoing SADC Chairperson His Excellency, João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and other past Chairpersons and, indeed, our brothers and sisters in the region in condemning and calling for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the sanctions,” Mnangagwa said as both Zimbabwe president and SADC chair.
“It is the ordinary people, particularly the vulnerable, who bear the brunt of these heinous and inhumane measures, which also stifle economic and social progress in Zimbabwe.”
The Zimbabwe leader urged the removal of what he said were “unwarranted and cruel sanctions, which violate the basic tenets of international law and the Charter of the United Nations”.
He added, “Our region enjoys relative peace and stability and continues to work towards achieving a prosperous and integrated region.
“We strive to secure a future where all our countries and peoples realise their mutually shared aspirations without leaving anyone and any place behind.
“The imposition of sanctions undermines our collective efforts towards regional integration and sustainable development. As a community, we have to continue working together to ensure that our region remains a beacon of hope and prosperity, for generations to come.
“May this message transcend our borders and reach the ears and rattle the conscience of those perpetuating these cruel sanctions. They must realise the extent of harm their reprehensible actions inflict on the generality of the people of Zimbabwe, on the SADC region, and Africa, at large.”
In a comment posted on X, the US embassy in Zimbabwe, dismissed claims the sanctions were hurting ordinary Zimbabweans.
“US sanctions are focused on holding corrupt individuals accountable. Only 11 individuals out of 16 million people are sanctioned. There are no sanctions on the 16 million people of Zimbabwe. We urge the government to deal with economic mismanagement and corrupt actors who are the root causes of Zimbabwe’s economic troubles,” wrote the embassy.
Zimbabweans have had divided opinions on US sanctions.
Some feel the measures, while intended to spite and force a change of behaviour among Zimbabwean rulers accused of rights abuses, poll fraud and corruption, have failed to yield anything as the same culprits are cushioned by their control of state resources and proximity to the levers of power.
