Maravi

[Not 'merely' the ZANU-PF. Anyone with two working braincells can understand that putting the government on a credit freeze - Section 4C of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 - for a decade is detrimental to the economy. The date of introduction of ZDERA (Jan.1 2002) coincides with the acceleration of the decline of the Zimbabwe Dollar against the US dollar during 2002, when it declined more in 2002 than in the 6 years before, combined. ZDERA came into force on Jan 1, 2002. Only a coward still denies the existence or impact of economic sanctions on the Zimbabwean economy. Ironically, it was ZDERA co-sponsor and so-called 'progressive' Russ Feingold, who tried to extend the credit freeze of the Zimbabwean government beyond ten years, by introducing the Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2010, which through Section 4D (Multilateral Financing Conditions) attempted to extend the credit freeze on the Government of Zimbabwe (quote from ZTDERA Sec 4D: "The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each international financial institution to oppose any extension by the respective institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe..."). Just as puzzling, ironically, it was the hardline Republican senator Jim Inhofe who tried to get this financial isolation lifted, by introducing the Zimbabwe Sanctions Repeal Act of 2010. The Inhofe bill states:

(25) Section 4(c) of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 specifically directs the United States Executive Director to each international financial institution to oppose and vote against any extension by the institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe or any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any international financial institution.

(26) In order to restore fully the economy of Zimbabwe and assist in the process of transition to democracy, the sanctions imposed under the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 and burdening the power-sharing government in Zimbabwe must be repealed. "

So clearly it is not merely the ZANU-PF who says so. A fact that Tendai Biti (Finance Minister, MDC) explains (4:40 onwards) and other MDC members in the Wikileaks Cables are on record of complaining about the impact of economic sanctions on the economy. - MrK]