Zimbabwe SONA
Managing Editor
THIS year’s edition United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has turned into an anti-sanctions crusade for Zimbabwe, with nations sympathetic to the southern African country adding their voice.
Zimbabwe has blamed sanctions for economic failure and tumbling fortunes, but critics maintain that poor policies as well as corruption are the major causes of continued suffering for millions living in poverty.
Despite paying millions to public relations firms to spruce up the country’s image, with the hope that economy sanctions would be removed, the west including the US and UK have maintained a tough stance on Harare.
“The AU once again calls for the lifting of foreign sanctions against Zimbabwe. These harsh measures continue to inflict a sense of injustice against an entire people and aggravate their suffering in these times of deep crisis,” African Union chairperson, Mack Sall said in his address.
His remarks come after South African President Cyril Rhamaposa discussion Zimbabwe sanctions with US President Joe Biden.
He described the sanctions as having a negative impact on South Africa, amid growing calls to remove thousands of Zimbabweans living in South Africa.
South Africa’s Naledi Pandoor also weighed in the sanctions debate, calling for the lifting of the measures on Cuba and Zimbabwe.
“South Africa calls for an end to the embargo against Cuba, which continues to impede the right to
development of her people,” Pandor said.
“In the same vein, we call for an end to unilateral coercive measures against Zimbabwe, which
have compounded the problems experienced by the people of Zimbabwe and have a detrimental
effect on the broader Southern African region.”
UNGA turns into as anti-santions crusade for Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean government has been basking in the solidarity given by Sall, Pandor and DRC President Felix Tshikedi at UNGA.
“The term gaining traction is “UNILATERAL COERCIVE MEASURES”. These are economic measures taken by one State to compel a policy change in another State. In our case the State trying to coerce us to follow its chosen policies is the US. This undermines our right to self-determine,” information secretary Nick Mangwana wrote on Twitter.
The Zimbabwean government has been on an anti-sanctions crusade since 2018 and has hosted two anti-sanctions campaign as it seeks solidarity.
Although President Emmerson Mnangagwa, at one point said Zimbabweans should stop “mourning” over sanctions, he has somewhat resorted to blaming the restrictive measures for the country’s problems.
