(HERALD) Sanctions go beyond travel bans

Sanctions go beyond travel bans
Nomagugu M’simang.

EDITOR — "If Nestlé is convinced about its actions, then it must stop doing business in Zimbabwe because the First Family is also likely to be buying its products." This was part of a recent statement issued by the Affirmative Action Group.

This probably is one of the few succinct statements that define the nature of the economic sanctions regime imposed on Zimbabwe by the West, which others prefer to misrepresent as ‘‘restrictive measures’’.

Just like AAG, it is incumbent upon all Zimbabweans to realise that sanctions are not about travel bans and all that baloney floated around, but they are more about doing business between nation states — inter and intra-country trading — growing wealth and ensuring livelihoods, irrespective of which part of the globe they are from.

The irony is that while citizens of countries that imposed sanctions on us have had no problems coming to Zimbabwe, selling their goods and services because Zimbabwe had no option but to buy from them, it is not the same with Zimbabweans.

We use the little that is available to buy from them, but they do not do the same. Therefore, while they can freely choose whom to trade with, we do not have such options, just because they set the rules. But they continue to call themselves democrats.

Nestlé is not the only company. Some among us say they have "disengaged" from Government because they want President Mugabe and Zanu-PF out of office.

But I wonder why Zimbabweans should continue to be treated as second class citizens under the pretext of good governance, although the reality is the West’s desire to access our resources, and use our unique and central a location as an entry point for trading with African countries.

Nomagugu M’simang.
Harare.