Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has reiterated calls to lift economic sanctions which were imposed on Zimbabwe by United States of America (USA) and European Union (EU) in 2003.
Nyusi who is also the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson made the call yesterday Saturday, through a statement which was addressed to SADC member states, during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of SADC existence. Which was under the theme “the future we want, the United Nations we need.”
Reads part of the statement: “It has been one year since the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) declared 25th October as the day for SADC to campaign as a region for the unconditional removal of sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe.
While significant progress has been made since the decision was made in 2019, Zimbabwe remains under sanctions that significantly undermine the country’s capacity to respond to socio-economic challenges that include three successive droughts; recovery from the effects of Tropical Cyclone Idai; poor access to affordable lines of credit on the global market; and servicing of her debt obligations.”
Nyusi then acknowledged that although the United Nations(UN) Secretary General Antonio Gutteres and the UN Human Rights commission received the attention of SADC to lift the sanctions on Zimbabwe, as one of the UN recommendations during the COVID-19 era, but no commitment has been made from USA and EU to remove the sanctions.
“We are encouraged that SADC’s call has received some attention, and as such we applaud the recent call by the United Nations Secretary General, Dr. Antonio Guterres, and the UN Human Rights Commission, for the removal of unilateral coercive measures, as they have significant negative impacts on access to COVID-19 prevention measures and post recovery efforts,” added Nyusi.
Nyusi was also worried that the sanctions has negatively impacted on social-economic status of Zimbabwe and her attainment of 2050 SADC vision, 2063 African Union Agenda and 2030 UN agenda of Sustainable development goals.
He has also challenged the aggrieved parties such as USA and EU to engage into dialogue with Zimbabwe to consider removing the sanctions.
Saying Zimbabwe has made commitment in repealing some of the laws which the USA and EU considered a detrimental to human rights abuse and also land compensation deeds with the white farmers.
He added: “On a very encouraging and positive note, SADC notes with satisfaction the resolve of the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to continue implementing reforms aimed at stabilising the economy and the financial sector.”
USA and EU imposed the economic sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2003, during Robert Mugabe reign over what they call gross human rights abuse and rigged election. The sanctions include travel restrictions by some individuals, financial, trade sanctions, among others.
SADC put on October 25 every year as a campaign to call upon the international community to lift the sanctions on Zimbabwe,unconditionally
