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SADC Heads of Mission Lobby For Removal Of Zim Sanctions

SADC Heads of Mission Lobby For Removal Of Zim Sanctions

Five heads of mission from the Southern Africa Development Community have called for the removal of sanctions placed on Zimbabwe, arguing it has impacted the regional block.

In 2019, the Southern Africa Development Community declared October 25 as the Anti-Sanctions day, in solidarity with Zimbabwe to denounce sanctions which western governments imposed on Zimbabwe in 2000.

The sanctions led by the United States of America and the United Kingdom have seen Zimbabwe's economy cripple.

The third anti-sanctions lobby is happening at a time the United Nations has intervened to investigate the impacts of the sanctions on Zimbabwe's citizens and with one Voice, five SADC heads of mission in Malawi have called for unconditional removal of the sanctions, which they say have affected trade and investments, further pointing on the political and social effects.

Led by Tanzania's High Commissioner to Malawi Benedicto Martin Mashiba, the heads of mission claim the region has felt the impact of the sanctions.

“The total removal of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe should position the country back to its glorious status as a bread basket through sustainable development and we have confidence that the unconditional removal of the punitive economic measures will end the financial and economic embargo on Zimbabwe,” he said.

Apart from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, and South Africa are the countries seeking removal of the sanctions.

Malawi's social commentator Victor Chipofya Jnr is of the view that removal of the sanctions will be a relief not just to Zimbabwe but to other countries as they are also affected.

“We have brothers and sisters escaping Zimbabwe and this likely affects the countries hosting these people hence need to remove these sanctions,” he said.

Since the sanctions were imposed 20 years ago, Zimbabwe is said to have lost an estimate of over 50 billion United States dollars.

The 2021 Anti Sanction Day has adopted the theme “Friend to all, enemy to none: forging ahead and enhancing innovation and productivity and adversity of sanctions.”

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