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(TALKZIMBABWE) Pohamba calls for lifting of sanctions against Zim

Pohamba calls for lifting of sanctions against Zim
Mutsawashe Makuvise
Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:45:00 +0000

NAMIBIAN President Hifikepunye Pohamba has called for an immediate lifting of sanctions of Zimbabwe by Western countries after the historic signing of a power-sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC faction leader Prof Arthur Mutambara

Describing the deal as “a success” the Namibian leader, who celebrated his 73rd birthday last month, said there “is no more reason to have the sanctions” as the speeches delivered at the signing ceremony proved that all the leaders were committed to achieving peace and stability in the country.

“It is now up to Western countries to lift (the) sanctions they imposed on Zimbabwe with immediate effect because the reasons they imposed those sanctions on are no longer there."

He also hailed the deal as a success for African diplomacy and praised the Southern African Development Community mandated facilitator, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, for his sterling efforts at brokering a deal between the rival parties.

"The deal is a success for the people of Zimbabwe, Sadc and Africa. Without the assistance from outside, they have found a solution," Pohamba, who attended the historic signing ceremony on Monday, was quoted as saying by Windhoek’s New Era newspaper.

The Namibian government led by the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) has been steadfast in its support of the Zimbabwean government dating back to the liberation war time..

Swapo’s party Secretary-General, Pendukeni Livula-Ithana, said the unity deal provides the opportunity for the country to move forward and also called for the lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwean Ambassador to Namibia, Chipo Zindoga, in an interview with te same newspaper “expressed joy over what transpired in her country.”

Zindoga was said to have called on the international community to support the development and reconstruction of Zimbabwe “even those that had reservations on what was happening in that country.”

"We need assistance that will ensure that Zimbabwe grows into a useful member of society," she said, adding that Zimbabwe will need assistance in terms of agricultural resources as the rainy and ploughing season draw near.

"We want everybody to be supportive. We have to utilise land that we claimed back," she said.

"We look forward to the day the sanctions will be removed. This is the will of the people, unless they have different agenda," she said.

WESTERN RESPONSE TO UNITY DEAL

Meanwhile, Western response to the signing of the unity deal has not been favourable.

The US and the EU said on Tuesday, a day after the official signing ceremony, that there will be no immediate end to sanctions on Zimbabwe.

EU foreign ministers said the measures would continue “until the new government took steps to restore democracy.”

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said a decision on lifting sanctions on Zimbabwean officials had been postponed until October.

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer said that Washington wanted to help Zimbabwe, but would need to see proof that President Mugabe had relinquished “some genuine power to Mr Tsvangirai”.

Australia's foreign minister says sanctions against Zimbabwe will not be lifted, despite the signing of a historic power-sharing deal by the leaders of the African nation.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Tuesday that sanctions would be reviewed depending on human rights progress and social and economic reconstruction.

Smith welcomed the agreement signed Monday by President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as "modest progress."

Labels: HIFIKEPUNYE POHAMBA, NAMIBIA, SANCTIONS, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:02 PM