Anti-sanctions month kicks off
Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
THE calls for the lifting of the illegal embargo imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States of America and its Western allies is set to be amplified this October as the anti-sanctions month kicks off.
Relations between Zimbabwe and Western countries led by Britain, turned sour at the turn of the millennium, when the Southern African country embarked on the land reform programme meant to correct colonial imbalances in which the black majority had no access to productive land.
The land re-distribution exercise gave Zimbabweans control over the means of production and the West was livid hence it imposed illegal sanctions to effect regime change.
Since then, Zimbabwe’s economy has suffered cumulative losses estimated at above US$40 billion.
The sanctions have received widespread condemnation from within Zimbabwe and beyond.
The United Nations General Assembly has become the best global platform to highlight the negative effects of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
October has since been set aside as anti-sanctions month, while the 25th has been declared the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Anti-Sanctions Day.
Despite all the negative effects of the illegal sanctions, Zimbabwe has remained resilient, especially now that the Second Republic is pushing for increased investments and looking inward for resource mobilisation to grow the national economy.
Zimbabwe has recorded unprecedented developments in road and dam construction, as well as agriculture, education and providing social safety nets for the citizenry.
The USA is, however, unrelenting in efforts to punish Zimbabwe, and has introduced a new set of sanctions, the Global Magnitsky on the country’s leadership, businessmen and companies.
The US continues to deny the existence of the embargo, although 17 fire engines destined for Zimbabwe from Belarus have been held by Lithuania due to the illegal sanctions.
Lithuania has decided to send the fire engines to Ukraine which has sparked controversy with stakeholders slamming the move.
As Zimbabwe commemorates the anti-sanctions month, several sectors of the economy have been adversely affected although the government remains above the situation through the Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe Lakhiwa Ngabanikhazi balo mantra.
