Time up for economic warfare
WITH Zimbabwe having gone for close to two decades under sanctions, the business community, the general public and Government officials have called for the unconditional removal of the embargo. Those who spoke to The Manica Post said the removal of the sanctions was long overdue as they were illegal and were hampering the country’s development. Over the years, the sanctions have also been hurting vulnerable communities. Sunday, October 25, marks the Anti-Sanctions Day, which was set aside by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to call for the removal of the sanctions with one voice. On this day, Africans will join hands in calling for the unconditional removal of the sanctions on Zimbabwe, whose ripple effects have not spared the entire region’s economy. Businessman and academic, Mr Simon Takainga, said the sanctions were indiscriminate. He said the coercive measures were causing economic frustration, especially among ordinary citizens, as a result of their humanitarian impact on poverty, unemployment and the income distribution gap. Economic sanctions, he said, were designed to lower the collective economic welfare of Zimbabwe through a reduction in international trade. “What this simply means is that there can be no imports, exports, financing of goods, distribution of technology and services or trade brokering between them (West) and Zimbabwe. These sanctions must be lifted unconditionally.
“They have triggered broad humanitarian crises given their indiscriminate nature. The economic impact of sanctions cannot be limited to a single locus — meaning their effects have spread far beyond their intended reach, thereby leading to widespread suffering of all Zimbabweans,” said Mr Takainga.
“These sanctions are perpetuating an increase in inequality among citizens — often harming the rural populace disproportionally. The sanctions have also created unemployment in some sectors of the economy by slowing the economic exchange on the domestic market, increasing inflation, and creating a black market for scarce products. “As these coercive measures wreak havoc in our economy, women become the first victims to lose their jobs and face economic discrimination. Sadly, the sanctions have been there for too long and their impact will still persist even after they are lifted – they will still have a negative impact on the cost of national reconstruction and development,” said Mr Takainga. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Honourable Mike Madiro said calls for the removal of sanctions have reached new dimensions and requires everyone’s participation regardless of political affiliation, religion, colour or creed.
“We are saying sanctions must go. We want every Zimbabwean to call for the unconditional removal of sanctions. As Zimbabweans, we should be at the forefront denouncing all forms of embargos on Zimbabwe and her people. “We must fight the sanctions from all angles, be it advocacy or practically working hard to ensure imports’ substitutions. We should also vigorously pursue the re-engagement agenda,” said Hon Madiro, who is also Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairman.
A farmer, Mr Booker Chinamasa, said the sanctions are illegal, unjust and vindictive as they seek to condemn the land reform programme and justify disproportionate distribution of national resources. He said they must be lifted as they are killing innocent people in a silent war. “Whatever required assistance — be it financial, technological or material — is very difficult to access as the providers themselves are also afraid of being sanctioned by America and her European counterparts,” said Mr Chinamasa.“Sanctions kill as they are a war. These sanctions are blocking essential medicines, farm equipment and foreign direct investment. They are also condemning thousands into poverty. We are being punished for resisting other countries’ agendas. This economic warfare is resulting in chronic shortages of basic necessities, dislocation of the economy, chaotic hyperinflation and condemning multitudes to poverty.”
His sentiments were echoed by Mr Farai Mapfumo of Headlands. “If sanctions can affect the ◆
country so much — what more at an individual level for the Zimbabwean farmer, teacher, doctor or villager who does not have State resources at their disposal?
“We were labelled enemies of the protagonists due to the land reform programme. We are being ‘fixed’ through these crippling sanctions, whose dire consequences on the economy and vision of the new dispensation are visible to all discerning people.
“We should, however, work hard and produce enough in the agricultural, mining and manufacturing sectors to bust the effects of the embargo.
“On Sunday, all well-meaning Zimbabweans must join hands and let the whole world know that the greatest human right abuse is the imposition of illegal sanctions on an innocent population,” said Mr Mapfumo.
Speaking to this publication, the business community also said the tourism industry is one of the most affected sectors as it thrives on perception, adding that increased production in all sectors of the economy will bust the effects of the embargo. Golden Peacock Villa Hotel’s manager, Mr Willard Madhombiro, said the sanctions are affecting Brand Zimbabwe.
“A brand is a perception that is created for the market to feed on it. Brand Zimbabwe under sanctions is very difficult to sell as a destination.
“Therefore we are not able to realise the real value of our efforts, sanctions are a big obstacle in the tourism industry. We are not getting the numbers that we want, yet Zimbabwe is endowed with a lot of resources and tourism products.
“Effectively, the super powers are tarnishing Brand Zimbabwe and branding it as a bad tourism destination.
“Despite introducing a lot of innovations in the tourism sector, market development and market penetration is still being hampered.
“Sanctions should be lifted so that international tourists are not dissuaded from visiting Zimbabwe. In imposing sanctions, they want Zimbabwe to look like an unsafe tourism des
tination,” said Mr Madhombiro.
Tourism expert, Mr Lloyd Makonya weighed in to also say the tourism industry is one of the most affected sectors.
“Tourism is one of our key economic pillars and Europe and North America were our major source markets.
“The sanc- tions came with negative publicity for Zimbabwe, hence the sig- nificant drop of arrivals from those desti- nations and a sus- pension of some airline services to Zimbabwe.
“The secondary result was the drop in the sector’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. This has ripple effects across the entire tourism industry value chain,” said Mr Makonya
Eastern Highlands Experience chairman, Mr William Chatigu, who is also the director of Kwayedza Lodge in Vumba, said the Eastern Highlands is the most disadvantaged because of its road network, compared to areas like
Victoria Falls, where one can simply fly in and out of the country.
“We don’t have our own airport, thanks to the sanctions. This has affected business in a huge way,” he said.
People in Chipinge also added their voices on the call for the removal of the sanctions.
Mr Senior Zvarimwa, a macadamia farmer, said they are failing to sell their nuts in Europe due to the sanctions.
He said their crop is being sold as a South African product because of the sanctions.
“We are having difficulties in penetrating the European markets because of the embargo.
“We spent close to 10 years trying to secure markets with no luck. The same crop that was being exported by former white farmers is now being regarded as poor quality crop,” said Mr Zvarimwa.
Another farmer, Mr Forichi Musindo, thanked Chipinge residents for remaining resolute at a time when the country is under siege from external forces.
“The sanctions were meant to inflict pain on ordinary Zimbabweans so that they would revolt against the Government. This has left our detractors with egg on their faces as Zimbabweans have remained resolute in denouncing the sanctions,” he said.