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Sanctions against Zim not the best solution - Chongo

Sanctions against Zim not the best solution - Chongo
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sat 12 Mar. 2011, 04:00 CAT

A PARLIAMENTARIAN says sanctions against Zimbabwe are not the best solution to the political problems in that country. Commenting on the prolonged sanctions on Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe and his allies, Mwense member of parliament Jacob Chongo said sanctions of any kind were not good for anybody because they affect a lot of people, especially ordinary citizens.

“Sometimes it’s not the targeted people that suffer, it’s mostly common people that suffer. What are the sanctions intended to achieve?

“Probably it’s to make people rise against government after they people have encountered a lot of difficulties. But if people rise against the government, is that the solution or not?” Chongo asked.

“Instead of imposing sanctions, the best is to promote good governance. Sanctions are not the right thing. Violence and sanctions are not the best options. We just have to engage.”

He said some countries propagating sanctions against African countries were themselves guilty of violating human rights or not observing democratic tenets and were never penalised because they had an upper hand economically as super powers.

“The unfortunate part is that we in Africa we are in a weaker position, so it’s very rare that we even think of sanctioning because we do realise that if we sanction the US, it’s like we are punishing ourselves because we need the American market,” said Chongo.

And Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) Northern Province co-ordinator
Kelly Kashiba called for the upholding of democratic principles in Zimbabwe.

“The best idea is to put in place governance structures in place; donors are interested in good governance structures and collecting signatures which President Mugabe is doing is not the best way,” said Kashiba.

President Mugabe last week launched a campaign dubbed: Zimbabwe says no to illegal sanction.

The governing ZANU-PF party championed campaign is aimed at collecting millions of signatures of Zimbabweans opposed to the sanctions.

Last month, the European Union extended the sanctions against President Mugabe and his allies for one year though it removed 35 people from its list of Zimbabweans subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

Labels: KELLY KASHIWA, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 5:11 AM