MPs challenged to speak against sanctions

PARLIAMENTARIANS from across the political divide have been challenged to join the nation in calling for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on the country.

This comes as the country will on Sunday commemorate the second anniversary of the Sadc Anti-Sanctions Day following its adoption at the regional body’s Heads of State and Government Summit held in Tanzania last year.

Moving a point of privilege in the National Assembly yesterday, Zanu

PF chief whip Cde Pupurai Togarepi also proposed that the legislators craft a joint statement calling for the unconditional removal of the embargo.

“On the 25th of October the country will be united in calling for the removal of the illegal sanctions. Therefore, I call on the MPs to join fellow Zimbabweans in the call for their removal.

“SADC and other progressive nations have stood with Zimbabwe and have called for the removal of sanctions. As representatives of the people, we stand with them in calling for the removal of sanctions,” Cde Togarepi said.

He added: “Even as MPs we can come up with a joint statement for the removal of sanctions for the development of this country.

The US and the EU imposed sanctions on the country 20 years ago in retaliation to Government’s adoption of the land reform exercise meant to correct historical colonial imbalances.

Although the EU has rolled back most of its sanctions the US’s punitive measures set out in the misnamed Zimbabwe Economic Recovery and Democracy Act remain in existence and have prevented the country from accessing international lines of credit. It increased the country’s risk profile.

Commemorations to mark this year’s anti- sanctions day will be hosted virtually, including President Mnangagwa’s address to the nation.

At the just ended UN General Assembly a number of world leaders also called for the removal of the sanctions.

Meanwhile legislators condemned the brutal killing of Tapiwa Makore, a seven-year-old boy from Murehwa who was allegedly murdered for ritual purposes. The boy’s body was found mutilated with its head missing. His uncle also named Tapiwa

Makore and his herdsman Tafadzwa Shamba have since been arrested as murder suspects.

Cde Togarepi yesterday moved a motion condemning the killing saying the perpetrators deserved to be punished severely for the crime.

He also called on the political and community leadership to conduct awareness campaigns against popular beliefs that human body parts could boost business ventures.

Cde Dexter Nduna also seconded the adoption of the motion saying there was nothing as painful as losing one’s child.