Youth stand up against Sanctions
Story by Farai Gwaze
YOUTH-LED organisations converged in Harare this Wednesday in support of the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day denouncing the illegal embargo imposed on Zimbabwe by the West.
This year’s SADC Anti-Sanctions Day was oversubscribed with youths taking a stand against the illegal embargo when they converged in Harare for a conference held under the theme: “Harnessing the Youth for Accelerated Social Economic Development in the fight Against Sanctions.”
“As youth, we are challenged by the sanctions to have the opportunity to better ourselves,” said the Founder of One Africa Trust, Mr Tapiwa Mukombe.
Junior President of the Senate, Ms Gamuchirai Muzvondiwa said, “As a youth leader I have come here today to show my support for SADC and I appeal to the US to remove the Sanctions.”
“The ZYC has taken a firm position to support youth-led initiatives. In doing so we look to support the efforts of young people to challenge the Sanctions but more importantly, develop their opportunities from them,” said the Executive Director of Zimbabwe Youth Council, Mr Brian Nyagwande.
The majority of the Zimbabwean youths have no kind words for the West after being adversely affected by the illegal sanctions.
Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honorable Tinoda Machakaire said, “Young people are the future, sanctions are stealing our future as they are stealing from the youth.”
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Anti Sanctions Trust presented its petition to the 10th parliament in support of SADC’s position against the illegal sanctions.
“We applaud the Anti-Sanctions law, and we petition in 2021 to parliament that law. We are happy it’s now a law. We have asked for a special anti-sanctions commission and the clerk of parliament has agreed that it is admissible, and we await its debate in parliament. We handed two other petitions today supported by nine civil society organisations to influence the civil process on the removal of illegal sanctions,” said President of the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Trust, Dr Nobert Hosho.
As Zimbabweans organised themselves this Wednesday, the message to the US and the West is very clear – sanctions must go.
