Southern African Development Community (Sadc) member States have called for the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe imposed in the early 2000s during its land reform process.

Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi issued the joint statement in Lilongwe yesterday, a day Sadc leaders designated to lobby for removal of sanctions to revive that country’s economy.

Reading a statement on behalf of all the six countries, Tanzania  High Commissioner Agnes Kayola said the 23 years of sanctions on Zimbabwe have negatively impacted on that country’s economic development and  undermined its progress towards the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Kayola: Sanctions have impacted the region

She said: “The Sadc member States recognise the negative ripple effects of the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe throughout the region. We are, therefore, desirous to see the total and unconditional removal of the illegal economic sanctions imposed on the government and the people of Zimbabwe.”

The call followed the 39th Sadc Summit of Heads of State and Government’s Decision 24 passed  in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in August 2019 which is also in line with the African Union (AU) Resolution to support Zimbabwe as it embarks on reviving its economy.

Zimbabwe Deputy High Commissioner Lovemore Matemera said going forward, there will be need to further engage with those who imposed the sanctions on Zimbabwe to map the way toward.

He said: “We are calling on the United Kingdom and all the supporters, including the United States, to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe.”

Following the sanctions, Western countries including the IMF and World Bank have withheld aid and development funds to Zimbabwe.

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