SADC STANDS SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA; CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF ALL ILLEGAL SANCTIONS ON ZIMBABWE

The strongly-worded plea has been issued by all representatives of the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) resident in Malawi.

Representatives of Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) resident in Malawi.

All the illegal sanctions that were imposed on Zimbabwe over 20 years ago must be removed without conditions for the country to go back to her grolious days as the bread basket of Africa, SADC says in a statement.

The strongly-worded plea has been issued by all representatives of the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) resident in Malawi.

Reading the communique to mark 25th October Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Day in Malawi's capital Lilongwe, on behalf of all Sadc member states, High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania Ambassador Benedicto Martin Mashiba said the sanctions have had devastating, harmful and inhumane effects on the economy of Zimbabwe since 2001.

He said as Sadc member states they are aware of the billions of dollars Zimbabwe has lost through trade and investment due to the crippling sanctions that were imposed by United States, European Union and United Kingdom.

Ambassador Mashiba added that "Sadc stands in solidarity with Zimbabwe as the economic, political and social effects of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are being felt throughout the entire region."

The Sadc member states have further recognised the major development strides the Zimbabwe government, under the stewardship of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is undertaking despite the harsh and illegal sanctions in place.

Sadc member states have also condemned none compromising attitude from the "imperialists" who have continued with a heart-hardened approach despite the second republic's "concerted efforts towards engagement and re-engagement with the international community in line with Zimbabwe's mantra, "Friend to all, enemy to none."

"We, the Sadc heads of Mission/Charge d'affaires resident in Malawi, do hereby mark 25 October as the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Day by echoing decision 24 made by Sadc summit of Heads of State and Government held in Dar es Salaam on the 17th and 18th August, 2019," concluded Mashiba in the statement.

Despite the crippling sanctions, Zimbabwe under Mnangagwa, has shown signs of resilience as the economy is on rebound and has a growth projection of over 5 percent.

This has been attributed to the bumper yield the country has recorded, which is the best for the country since independence.

Zimbabwe, for the first time in decades managed to record budget surplus, a development Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube attributed to the reforms and sound economic policies that have been put in place by the Mnangagwa administration.

Since January, Zimbabwe government has released around US$5Billion to companies as well as individuals for external payments which mostly have been for purchasing construction materials and equipment.

The bulk of the allotted funds, according to Reserve Bank, 60 percent has gone towards payment for raw materials and machinery and equipment and the residual 40 percent has gone towards payment for consumables, pharmaceuticals and other critical needs of the economy.