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(NEWZIMBABWE, SAPA) Zuma, Banda urge lifting of Zimbabwe sanctions

Zuma, Banda urge lifting of Zimbabwe sanctions
by Sapa
03/12/2010 00:00:00

SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma and his Zambian counterpart Rupiah Banda on Thursday called for western sanctions against Zimbabwe to be lifted. United States and European Union sanctions were not aiding change in Zimbabwe, Zuma said in Pretoria after a memorandum of understanding on environmental management and natural resources between South Africa and Zambia was signed.

"We should call upon the globe ( world ) to lift sanctions. We believe that the lifting of sanctions will be very helpful. The maintenance of sanctions is no longer adding any positive thing in Zimbabwe. It is in a sense inhibiting our progress in terms of what we want to achieve."

Banda, the current chairman of SADC, said: "I believe that we still can find a solution. We are united in calling for the lifting of the embargo on the leaders, their travel and trade with Zimbabwe. We think it is counter productive and that it is hitting the wrong people. It is affecting the wrong people."

Banda said the Southern African Development Community troika would meet to discuss Zimbabwe in January after a summit in Gaberone, Botswana, failed to take off two weeks ago, ironically because of Banda's absence.

Zuma, who was in Zimbabwe last week meeting political leaders in the power sharing government, said President Robert Mugabe wanted a resolution to Zimbabwe's problems, and that all parties in Zimbabwe were looking forward to elections set for early next year.

He said that the parties "acknowledged there are contested issues", but that they had agreed on most issues and for a peaceful election. Banda is on a two-day state visit to South Africa.

Labels: JACOB ZUMA, RUPIAH BANDA, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 7:51 AM