(HERALD) West’s illegal sanctions harming agriculture — Namibian minister
West’s illegal sanctions harming agriculture — Namibian ministerThursday, 03 November 2011 00:00
Herald Reporter
VISITING Namibian Minister of Information and Communication Technology Joel Kaapanda yesterday slammed the Western- imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe saying they were harming agricultural productivity. He said white-owned banks were reluctant to finance black farmers because of the economic embargo.
Mr Kaapanda said this after a tour of Pagejo RaRuby Farm along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway owned by Cde Ray Kaukonde. Sanctions, he said, had plunged the country into the current liquidity challenges and dented all efforts to re-build the economy.
"Farmers need funding to secure spare parts for machinery, buy inputs, repair infrastructure, pay labour and to get all operations going," said Minister Kaapanda.
"With the current scenario Zimbabwean farmers are producing under very difficult conditions as they literally do not have the support their counterparts in other parts of the globe are receiving."
Minister Kaapanda, however, commended Zimbabweans for their resilience, diligence and commitment to produce even under very difficult circumstances.
"People of Zimbabwe have courage and determination. They continue to score successes in many areas particularly farming as demonstrated by my brother Kaukonde here. You have demonstrated tenacity and diligence to produce under very unfriendly conditions. As Namibians we have stood by you through thick and thin, giving you all the necessary moral support and will do so forever," he said.
Earlier in the day, Minister Kaapanda and his delegation toured the National Heroes Acre where he was briefed on the liberation war of Zimbabwe and the relevance of the shrine to the people. He was, however, quick to admit that Zimbabwe's war of liberation had motivated his country to wage their own bitter war to dislodge the occupying force.
Minister Kaapanda arrived in Zimbabwe yesterday and was met at the Harare International Airport by Media, Information and Publicity Minister Cde Webster Shamu.
During his visit, Minister Kaapanda is expected to pay courtesy calls on Minister of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Cde Nicholas Goche and Minister of Information Communication Technology Mr Nelson Chamisa.
He will also tour several media houses before visiting the Victoria Falls before departing for his country on Sunday. "I am here to reciprocate a visit by my brother Minister Shamu to my country two years ago. Our two countries share cordial relations and we hope to continue building our bilateral ties," he said.
Labels: NAMIBIA, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
posted by MrK @ 9:38 AM
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