The ManicaPost
Pardon Muzavazi
Correspondent
AS the country commemorates the Anti-sanctions Day which is marked on October 25, there is need for Zimbabweans to be reminded that the illegal embargoes, which are in contravention of the basic principles of the international law, affect every citizen regardless of political or religious affiliation.
Both private and Government-owned businesses have been heavily affected, several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and donor agencies relocated to other countries, resulting in the abandonment of projects, retrenchment of employees and rendering the country’s skilled labour force, both from the ruling Zanu PF and the opposition redundant.
High unemployment rates drove the majority of Zimbabweans into abject poverty, creating instability and precipitous decline in general living standards in the country.
The unconducive economic environment created a sanctions-induced economic downturn with limited export markets, foreign currency shortages and increased production costs.
Due to the economic sanctions, an estimated five million Zimbabwean adults left the country in search of greener pastures and better living conditions, depriving the country of the much-needed expertise to contribute towards the country’s economic recovery.
The exodus also disrupted family set ups, which led to a lot of divorces and seperations.
It is, however, surprising to note that the MDC-Alliance continues to lobby the European Union (EU) to impose fresh sanctions on Zimbabwe, citing human rights abuse as if their supporters are immune to the effects of these illegal sanctions.
These economic sanctions are increasingly being used to promote the full range of American foreign policy objectives.
Yet, all too often sanctions turn out to be little more than expressions of US preferences that hurt Zimbabwe’s economy, and plunge the common Zimbabweans in a pool of untold suffering.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) continues to reaffirm its solidarity with the Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and to collectively voice its concerns on, and disapproval of the prolonged sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe.
In a statement to mark the Anti-Sanctions Day, Malawian President and SADC Chairperson, Dr Lazarus Mccarthy Chakwera, highlighted that SADC was concerned with the continuation of sanctions on some individuals, and entities of Zimbabwe, and continues to call for the unconditional and immediate lifting of these sanctions.
The SADC Chairperson noted that the lifting of Zimbabwe’s sanctions will facilitate socio-economic recovery, and enable Zimbabwe to meet her national and regional economic development plans as well as effectively manage her international obligations.
While addressing the 355th Ordinary Session of the Politburo in Harare recently, President Mnangagwa highlighted that sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe were illegal, unjustified, and counter productive and continue to hinder the people of Zimbabwe from enjoying their fundamental human rights.
The United Nations Special envoy, Professor Alena Douhan who is currently in the country to assess the impact of the sanctions imposed on the country highlighted that the unilateral sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe were affecting the people’s right to good health.
Posting on her Twitter handle recently, Professor Douhan said unilateral sanctions were affecting the right to health of the most vulnerable groups including those suffering from severe and life threatening rare skin condition, epidermolysis bullosa.
As usual, Professor Douhan’s observation was not well received by opposition elements who include MDC-Alliance vice-president, Mr Tendai Biti who accused her of lacking objectivity and being biased towards Government.
Professor Douhan, a U.N. Special Rapporteur on Negative Impact of Unilateral Coercive Measures on Human Rights and Professor of International Law’s visit ends on October 28, and she will present a public report on her findings to the UN Human Rights Council during the 51st session in September 2022.
Professor Douhan’s report will obviously not be accepted by the MDC-Alliance who have already dismissed her as a fake UN representative.
The United States, Britain and other nations imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe following the land reform programme, and ordinary Zimbabweans have largely been affected by these sanctions.
The Zimbabwe sanctions programme implemented by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) began on March 7, 2003, when then President George Bush issued an Executive Order imposing sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Subsequent former US presidents like Barack Obama and Donald Trump also maintained the sanctions regime.
The United States enunciated deliberately tailor-made sanctions within the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) to prevent US companies from undertaking business engagements with their Zimbabwean counterparts.
Similarly, the European Union (EU) the United Kingdom (UK) and their Allies such as Australia and Switzerland have also targeted numerous Zimbabwean entities with a view to making the country’s economy suffer and in the process effect regime change.
The MDC called for sanctions, which have hurt everyone including themselves, a move that has been equated to a person who burns his house to deal with a mouse.
