Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Sadc leaders condemn illegal sanctions

Sadc leaders condemn illegal sanctions
By: TC-TZG
Posted: Monday, August 23, 2010 3:42 pm

SOUTHERN African Development Community (Sadc) leaders have come out strong against the illegal and ruinous sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain, the United States and their allies in the West.

Speaking to journalists in their home countries following the recent Sadc Ordinary Summit in Namibia, President Rupiah Banda of Zambia and South Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said the three parties to the inclusive Government had agreed that the sanctions must go.

The two leaders said Britain, US, and their Western allies should take the cue from the three principals and from the region.

The African Union (AU) has also condemned the embargo.

Speaking to the Lusaka Times, President Banda who assumed chairmanship of the Sadc Troika - the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security at the summit - said Sadc Heads of State and Government and Zimbabwe's parties had agreed that the embargo was affecting the region's growth.

He said the region resolved to support Zimbabwe on the removal of the illegal sanctions and that the unity between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations would continue to foster peace and stability in Zimbabwe.

SA Deputy President Motlanthe echoed President Banda's words saying: "These sanctions retard progress in Zimbabwe. This is the view of our government."

He added: "It is why Sadc and the AU have called on the European Union, the government of the United Kingdom and the government of the United States to reconsider the position of these sanctions," he said.

He disputed claims that the sanctions were targeted at Zimbabwe's political elite saying the hugely discredited embargo had negatively affected the "free flow of capital and goods into Zimbabwe".

The three parties agreed in the Global Political Agreement to work together to get the sanctions lifted and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T party has come under fire for not doing its part to this end.

It has also since emerged that there will be no re-allocation of provincial governor posts until the illegal sanctions are lifted.

Zanu-PF last week emphasised that it would not make anymore concessions to MDC-T until that party started being sincere in fulfilling its obligations.

There are presently attempts by some US legislators to repeal the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act.

However, even that proposed legislation still tries to claim these are "targeted" sanctions even though the document contradicts itself by also acknowledging that Zimbabwe’s economy cannot recover for as long as Zidera exists.

Section 4 of Zidera bars Americans on boards of multilateral financial institutions from extending any form of assistance to Zimbabwe.

The Namibia Sadc Summit reiterated the demand for an end to illegal sanctions and pledged to actively engage Western capitals to end the embargo.

Labels: KGALEMA MOTLANTHE, SADC, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 4:54 PM