Trump’s sanctions extension condemned
The Second Republic has seen Zimbabwe embarking on a highly committed Reform Agenda under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa. Whilst this is an internal process purely initiated by Zimbabweans for the benefit of Zimbabweans, it’s contradictory for all this to be rewarded with brickbats and sanctions further crippling our economy.”
Zanu-PF also condemned the extension of sanctions against Zimbabwe by the US Government.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said there was no justification for the US to impose sanctions over a bilateral historical issue between Zimbabwe and Britain.
“On March 4, 2019, President Trump announced the extension of illegal sanctions by a further one year against the Sovereign Republic of Zimbabwe primarily on the alleged basis that His Excellency President Mnangagwa and his Government have not lived up to the commitment to effecting what the US terms “reforms”.
“The perpetuation of hostilities by the US and other like-minded countries is unjustifiable, despicable and contemptible to say the least as it comes against clear efforts by the Government of Zimbabwe towards implementation of its national reform agenda including engagement and re-engagement policy,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
He said the party noted with concern that this development came hard on the heels of another similar decision by the European Union to extend sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabwe, under the new dispensation has instituted remarkable electoral reforms which created a conducive environment for free, fair and credible elections as manifested in July, 2018.
“The country has witnessed the upholding of human rights fundamentals and the liberalisation of the media and many other freedoms as enshrined in the national Constitution. It must be understood by the Trump administration that there was no justification in the first place for the US to impose the sanctions over a bilateral historical issue between Zimbabwe and Britain,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
He added that it was wrong for the American Government to infer that the recent harmonised elections in Zimbabwe were irregular as they were endorsed by domestic, regional and continental bodies like Sadc, the AU and various other international observer missions. “The verdict by the Zimbabwe Constitutional Court on the electoral challenge by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, declaring President ED Mnangagwa the winner of the elections brought the matter to finality,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
A top American economist Professor Mr Steve Hanke also condemned Washington’s move saying imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe was counterproductive.
“Zimbabwe is right to detest the West’s #sanctions,” Mr Hanke posted on his Twitter handle. “For nearly two decades, #sanctions kept the #Mugabe regime in power and hamstrung the Zim economy. Like all sanctions, sanctions on Zim are completely counterproductive.”
Prof Hanke once served on the Council of Economic Advisors under former USA president Mr Ronald Reagan.
Renowned economist, Mr Eddie Cross, also condemned the US sanctions.
“If you look at list of demands in the Zidera, the US making legal instrument for sanctions on Zimbabwe, more than three quarters of those demands have received attention in the past seven months,” he said.
“I would have expected Trump to give some recognition to that. The European Union has done so and a number of other nations have recognised the progress being made.”
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF will hold its 326th Ordinary Session of the Politburo at 10AM today. — @pamelashumba1