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(HERALD) Zimbabweans back anti-sanctions lobby

Zimbabweans back anti-sanctions lobby
Monday, 28 February 2011 20:19
Herald Reporters

ZIMBABWEANS have pledged to rally behind the National Anti-Sanctions Petition Campaign expected to be launched by President Mugabe in Harare tomorrow. The campaign seeks to attract over two million signatures against the illegal Western sanctions.

Zimbabweans will sign a petition lobbying the European Union and the US to lift the embargo. Ordinary people yesterday expressed outrage at the continued imposition of the embargo and the two MDC formations' support of the debilitating sanctions.

Zanu-PF political commissar Cde Webster Shamu added that the campaign was a rare opportunity for Zimbabweans to unite and speak with one voice on a matter of paramount national concern.
Said Cde Shamu: "They (sanctions) have caused drastic reduction of capacity utilisation across all economic sectors, resulting in retrenchments, shortage of basic commodities, hyper-inflation and other related hardships.

"This is a rare opportunity for all of the people of Zimbabwe, irrespective of colour, creed or political affiliation, who have been affected by the illegal sanctions.

"People of various political and religious affiliations are free to turn out in their respective regalia."

Cde Shamu said the launch is a national event.

"Adequate security will be provided to ensure that people register their petition against sanctions peacefully.

"As such, we wish to warn any persons bent on unruly behaviour or violence that the law enforcement agents will be out in full force to maintain peace and order.
"Violence will not be tolerated."

President Mugabe will launch the campaign at the Harare Agricultural Show open car park with proceedings starting at 8am.

Harare resident Mr Ken Mufuka - a college student - said, "For long we were misled by some elements that it was an issue of certain individuals being barred from travelling to Europe or the US.

"Now, we fully appreciate that these sanctions really constitute economic and political warfare against Zimbabwe so they must go in their totality."

A primary school teacher in the city said it was "illogical" for MDC-T to claim the sanctions were targeted.

"(State Enterprises Minister) Gorden Moyo is in charge of a ministry whose parastatals are under sanctions.

"How can he and his party say the sanctions are on individuals? Parastatals are there for everyone, so what they are saying is illogical," she said.

Mr Christopher Moyo added that he would be honoured to be among the first people to sign the petition.

"This is not about party politics. It is about our country. I run an ICT business and the ICT Minister (Mr Nelson Cha-misa) is the spokesperson of a party that claims there are no sanctions on Zimbabwe, yet I cannot even make electronic transactions with some American companies because they say we are under sanctions.

"What is he talking about? Let's stop this politicking and be real about people's livelihoods."
Despite this, MDC-T spokesperson Mr Chamisa claimed the anti-sanctions campaign was a Zanu-PF project.

"It's a Zanu-PF effort and political campaign tool. We should have agreed on a collective way to do it," he said.

MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai voluntarily signed in the Global Political Agreement to lobby for an end to the

Zimbabweans back anti-sanctions lobby sanctions that his party has supported for so long.

The party has done nothing by way of that except for two occasions when former co-Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa called for an end to the embargo at international forums.

It is understood he was subsequently censured for that and Mr Tsvangirai eventually asked for his redeployment in the inclusive Government to the National Housing and Social Amenities brief.

The illegal sanctions have received worldwide condemnation from progressive groups like the African Union, Sadc, the Non-Aligned Movement, Comesa and the Pan African Parliament.

Political analysts also said the campaign came at the most opportune time since the MDC-T had reneged on its GPA commitment.

Professor Jonathan Moyo said: "This campaign is coming two years after the signing of the GPA in which parties in the inclusive Government committed themselves to the removal of the illegal sanctions.

"The clause on the removal of sanctions is the most important pillar of the GPA and two years after the signing of that agreement sanctions are still fully in place.

"Everyone was relying on MDC-T to unequivocally call for the removal of the sanctions since they are the ones who invited them.

"Therefore now there is need for us to take extraordinary measures beyond the GPA to deal with the sanctions."

Gokwe legislator Cde Dorothy Mhangami (Zanu-PF) said the sanctions had affected Government's efforts to improve people's welfare.

"The gap between the urban and the rural, the rich and the poor continues to widen.
"It is now difficult for Government to provide medicine, renovate schools, clinics and other infrastructure," she said.

Mazowe West Member of House of Assembly representative, Cde Richard Chirongwe (Zanu-PF), added: "Everyone ought to support it because they are affecting every person including those who called for them.

"Even those countries that imposed them are losing out because they have things that they would want here so it is important that they remove them."

His Uzumba colleague, Cde Simba Mudarikwa said it should always be borne in mind that the embargo was illegal.

Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions secretary general Mr Kennias Shamuyarira said; "Zimbabwean workers in all sectors should come together and stand up against illegal embargo which is not targeted at individuals but the ordinary worker who is suffering."

Cross Border Traders Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Killer Zivhu said the association's membership was behind the initiative.

"Sanctions are affecting everyone and we want to see millions of Zimbabweans rallying behind the President," he said.

Labels: SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 5:14 PM