The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
THE people of Zimbabwe have become masters of their own destiny, anchored on a philosophy that as a people they have the duty to develop their own country using locally available resources despite the debilitating economic sanctions imposed on the country, President Mnangangwa has said.
Addressing the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America yesterday (Thursday), President Mnangagwa said the illegal unilateral economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe 23 years ago by some Western countries were designed to subjugate the sovereign will of the Zimbabwean people.
“Zimbabwe has been under the illegal, unilateral economic sanctions for 23 years, imposed by some Western countries. These sanctions were designed to subjugate the sovereign will of the Zimbabwean people. We, therefore, demand that the unjustified unilateral sanctions be unconditionally lifted, including those imposed on countries like Cuba.
“In spite of these debilitating sanctions, the people of Zimbabwe have become masters of their own destiny. This is anchored on a philosophy that as a people, we have the duty and responsibility of developing our country, using our own domestic resources,” said President Mnangagwa.
South Africa and Namibia have also joined the growing chorus for the West to lift the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe must be lifted as they are also the nation’s neighbouring countries.
“Sanctions applied on Zimbabwe are having a negative impact not only on Zimbabwe’s economy, but also on a number of countries in SADC. They are also having a negative impact on us (South Africa).
“So, once again, we call on the various countries that have applied sanctions on African countries, particularly on Zimbabwe, to lift those sanctions so that the economy of that country can get back on its feet,” said President Ramaphosa.
Namibian President Hage Geingob said: “Selective punitive measures against Zimbabwe and Venezuela must also be lifted as these measures constitute the greatest obstacle to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.”
But despite the economic embargos, Zimbabwe is recording unprecedented development and economic success milestones as Zimbabweans remains focused on building their country.
Said President Mnangagwa: “We are recording unprecedented development and economic success milestones. For the last three years, our country has been the fastest growing economy in our Southern African region. Further, Zimbabwe is prioritizing the eradication of poverty and improving the quality of life of our people, particularly, those in rural areas.
“The empowerment and capacitation of communal and small-scale farmers has seen us realise food and nutrition security at both household and national level. With effect from this year, our country will become a net exporter of wheat,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also called for respect of the sovereign equality of nations.
“It is imperative that we re-commit to the Charter of the United Nations, multilateralism, solidarity, justice and the peaceful settlement of disputes for sustainable development and a shared future. This calls on us all to respect the sovereign equality of nations, big or small, poor or rich.
“By working together, we can harness our expertise and learn from one another to strengthen international institutions for the accelerated attainment of Agenda 2030. The impact of conflicts, terrorism, climate change induced natural disasters, biodiversity loss, and the rising prevalence of disease and pandemics, especially in the developing world, deserve our urgent attention,” said President Mnangagwa.
He added: “Regrettably, progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals has been uneven, while global solidarity has been tested and self-interest superseding cooperation. We have a duty to reignite our commitment to the principles of the 2030 Agenda and rekindle the spirit of multilateralism.
“To accelerate action on the SDGs, we must scale up investments in people and communities by ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation for all. The creation of economic opportunities, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, especially among women and the youth, must remain a priority.”
He also said Zimbabwe continues to entrench democracy, constitutionalism, good governance and the rule of law, following the recently held 2023 harmonised elections.
“Zimbabwe continues to entrench democracy, constitutionalism, good governance and the rule of law following the recently held 2023 harmonised elections. I am pleased to highlight that our country enjoyed peace before, during and after our free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
“We strongly condemn tendencies by some powerful countries who preach peace, human rights and democracy and yet clandestinely fund conflicts and the unconstitutional changes of governments, for their own narrow interests.
“We, further, condemn the use of unilateral and illegal sanctions as a foreign policy tool at the disposal of some powerful nations, such as those sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and countries like Cuba. Such actions hamper the trust, global solidarity and multilateralism we desire.
“It is important that we channel our collective efforts towards building peace and driving forward our development agenda, for shared prosperity. There is much more that unites us, than that which divides us,” said President Mnangagwa.
