The government has admitted that the much hyped Friday’s Anti-Sanctions march is only a bold statement to the Western powers who imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe which will not yield the removal of the embargo.
The SADC declared 25 October a solidarity day with Zimbabwe to call for the immediate removal of sanctions against the troubled nation and the government has rolled out a plan that will see all the 10 provinces holding marches to unequivocally call for the US and its allies to remove the sanction.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Mangaliso Ndlovu told reporters after a tour of Dororwa Mine yesterday that the government will make a statement on Friday but will not be expecting any action from the US government.
“I don’t expect that a day after Friday the US will remove sanctions, yes it’s a bold statement also coming from the region (SADC), that we don’t know why these sanctions are imposed on Zimbabwe.
“We don’t whose interests they are serving because the US government keeps changing the reasons for having them. When you look at when they were imposed in 2002 and now, it’s quite different but we will not mourn and sit while our people are suffering, we need to revive our institutions, such industries because they are sanctions busters,” Ndlovu said.
Recently, the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols insisted that Zimbabwe needs to act on reforms if sanctions are to be removed.
He said citizens were free to march in protests against the US but called on the government to extend the same right when citizens want to march against the government.
“Zimbabweans are welcome to protest against us should they have any grievances. And we hope that this freedom will be extended to those Zimbabweans who wish to protest against the government,” said Nichols.
He said the President Emmerson Mnangagwa led government must deal with human rights abuse cases which includes reports of abductions of civil society members and opposition party supporters.
“We have seen very disturbing incidences of abductions of civil society members. We have seen protests turning violent in August 2018, January and August 2019 and turning off the internet.
“Zimbabwe has got more than 50 abduction cases that have not yet been investigated, that is something that is very crucial,” added Nichols.
“Those things were deeply concerning to the international community and to average Zimbabweans,” he added.
Speaking to reporters in Russia yesterday where he is attending the Russia-Africa Summit, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s calls for sanctions will be heard regardless of the fact that the US government will not act on the march.
“Whether something will come out it or not, our voice as SADC will be heard. I am told that because of sanctions, Zimbabwe has lost billions and billions of dollars both in terms of investments and loss of lines of credit from international global capital,” Mnangagwa said.
