PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has said sanctions are affecting his government’s 2030 agenda by restricting access to international financial support.
He made the remarks during the Anti-Sanctions Day commemorations held at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo yesterday, which was punctuated by Zanu PF slogans, with supporters clad in their party regalia.
Zupco buses were used to ferry people to the venue, whereas the kombi rank near City Hall was suspended to cater for the anti-sanctions activities.
The event was held under the theme Embracing Innovation towards Vision 2030: A Relentless Fight Against Illegal Sanctions.
Mnangagwa said sanctions negatively affected the lives and livelihoods of ordinary citizens, particularly women and children.
“Further, they have limited our ability to trade freely, restricted access to international financial support, stifled investment and reduced our ability to adequately invest in social services,” he said.
“This has, in turn, negatively affected the lives and livelihoods of ordinary citizens, particularly women, children and the vulnerable. Illegal sanctions are impairing our quest to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.”
He paid said the day marks the fifth Anniversary of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Anti-Sanctions Day, indicating that it is a day set aside by progressive and revolutionary brothers and sisters in the region to denounce and call for the unconditional removal of the illegal sanctions imposed by some Western countries on Zimbabwe.
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According to Mnangagwa, sanctions are strangling our economy, undermining our right to self-determination and compromising the achievement of the collective development aspirations of our country.
“Together, we are overcoming the negative impact of these unjust and illegal measures; we are emerging more united, focused, hardworking and innovative as we build a stronger economy and society,” he said.
“Today, we amplify our voice against the imposition of illegal sanctions, by launching a digitally enabled national anti-sanctions petition programme.
“The initiative enables citizens to digitally append their signatures on a petition to express their rejection of sanctions through online platforms. Media houses and practitioners, including other anti-sanctions lobby groups, are called upon to partner this initiative.”
Mnangagwa mentioned that they would continue to empower youths with the requisite skills, resources and tools to drive innovation and economic growth.
“Despite the existence of the heinous and inhumane illegal sanctions, my administration will continue to pursue the policy of engagement and re-engagement,” he said.
“As we join the region in commemorating this 5th Sadc Anti-Sanctions Day, Zimbabwe strongly condemns the hegemonic tendencies and hypocrisy of those nations which continue to think that ‘might is right’ and brutally violate international law and the United Nations Charter without shame or remorse.”
Mnangagwa officially launched and signed the online national anti-sanctions petition and urged the nation to rally behind the programme.
