‘No room for servant-master relationship’

TRADITIONAL leaders in Manicaland have added their voice to the call for the unconditional removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe at the turn of the millennium.

Interviewed chiefs said the West should not continue selling the world a dummy that the sanctions are targeted.

They argued that ordinary Zimbabweans are feeling the brunt of the economic embargoes.

Zimbabwe Chiefs’ Council Manicaland provincial chairman, Senator Chief Makumbe said Zimbabwe cannot be punished for correcting a wrong thing through the land reform programme.

“The liberation struggle was executed to address the land question. As the custodian of the land, we were fully behind the land reform programme that saw the black majority reclaiming what rightfully belonged to them.

“The sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are a result of our move to correct the land question. You cannot be punished for repossessing what rightfully belongs to you. The servant-master relationship has no room in a free country like Zimbabwe and as the owners of the land, we should rightly benefit from its endowments.

“As Manicaland, we are blessed with vast resources, ranging from diamonds, gold, coffee, tea, timber, macadamia nuts to lithium. We should freely trade our God-given resources and the citizenry should benefit from the proceeds of these resources. Sanctions have to go as soon as yesterday, we have suffered enough as a country,” said Chief Makumbe.

Acting Chief Saunyama said the sanctions are not targeted as they are hurting ordinary people.

“The narrative that the sanctions are targeted should be challenged at every forum because that is the mother of all lies. These sanctions are having a telling effect on ordinary Zimbabweans, especially in our communities.

“We now have a lot of child-headed families as a result of the effects of these sanctions. Several local companies closed shop due to these sanctions and as a result, some people were forced to move to other countries in search of opportunities.

“The companies that are operating are doing so below capacity utilisation. Most companies are not accessing credit lines and they are therefore struggling to recapitalise their operations. This has resulted in massive retrenchment of employees,” said Acting Chief Saunyama.

He added: “When adults migrate and leave behind child-headed families, these children are exposed to child abuse and juvenile delinquency. This is why we are battling culture erosion. Some even end up abusing drugs.

“We call for the unconditional lifting of the sanctions. Zimbabweans have suffered for a long time. We cannot continue watching as a whole generation is destroyed by the effects of these economic embargoes,” said Acting Chief Saunyama.