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(TALKZIMBABWE) Zanu PF youths rally against sanctions

Zanu PF youths rally against sanctions
by Lebo Nkatazo
24/02/2010 00:00:00

ZANU PF youths marched through the streets of Harare on Wednesday to demand that western sanctions on the country be lifted. The placard waving youths, numbering about a thousand, were escorted by dozens of police officers on the march which culminated at the party’s HQ in the city.

The sloganeering protesters briefly gathered in front of the United States embassy, but officials said no specific demand was made.

"The protesters did not present any specific demands to the Embassy. The U.S. Embassy believes in the right of all Zimbabweans to freely gather and peacefully express their opinions," the US embassy said in a statement.

The placards carried messages to Zanu PF’s coalition partners in the unity government, including one which declared: “Don’t Disengage, Do Your Part, Condemn”.

Another said: “Sanctions Must Go Now, Now!”

The European Union recently extended by a year a travel ban and asset freeze on President Robert Mugabe and 196 other individuals, mainly members of his Zanu PF party, who are accused of human rights violations.

The sanctions also target 31 companies, including banks, said to have shareholding by people with links to Zanu PF.

South African President Jacob Zuma, mediating between Zimbabwe’s ruling coalition partners, last week said the sanctions were undermining his efforts to secure an agreement on an electoral framework that could guarantee a free and fair vote.

“We want to create a conducive environment so that they can have elections to choose their own government, but the continuation of sanctions is undermining the agreement,” Zuma said.

Labels: DEMONSTRATION, SANCTIONS, ZANU-PF, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 3:26 PM