President rallies nation against sanctions

02 Oct, 2022 - 00:10 0 Views
President rallies nation against sanctions President Mnangagwa greets congregants at Gospel of God International Church 1932, at Dandadzi Hills, Gandanzara, Chief Makoni Area, in Rusape yesterday

The Sunday Mail

Sunday Mail Reporter

Zimbabweans have to marshal their collective will and innovation to steer the country to prosperity in spite of the illegal and unilateral economic sanctions imposed on the country by the West, said President Mnangagwa.

Writing in his weekly column for The Sunday Mail, the President said the country will leverage its abundant natural resources and human capital to push through its development agenda. The country, he said, can ill afford to shirk its generational responsibility to create a better Zimbabwe on account of the two-decade-old sanctions.

“While we continue to challenge those nations which decided to impose and punish us with spiteful, illegal sanctions, we must, in equal, if not greater measure, seek creative ways around those sanctions so we prosper our nation in spite of them,” said the President.

“We cannot wring our hands in despair; or break down and cry. We meet challenges head-on. We have God-given resources in abundance; we have the brains which we continue to develop and sharpen; indeed, we have the zeal and will to work and prosper our nation.”

Zimbabweans, he added, are well-known for both their resilience and innovation, which are encapsulated in his administration’s philosophy “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo”, which rallies locals to lead national development.

“It is a mantra we temper with patience, perseverance and persistence we summon and cultivate as a people.

“For steadily, slowly but surely, we will build our country, brick by brick, stone upon stone!”

President Mnangagwa noted the solidarity demonstrated by African countries, which recently used the platform provided by the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to call for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

This, he said, was the culmination of intense lobbying undertaken by the Second Republic through the regional body, Southern African Development Community (SADC).

He expressed gratitude to the late Tanzanian president, Dr John Magufuli, and the United Republic of Tanzania for declaring October 25 Anti-Sanctions Day at the 39th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government that was held in Dar es Salaam in August 2019.

The summit also tasked the SADC Secretariat to step up the lobby with the African Union and to raise the issue at the United Nations General Assembly.

“That day has since become continental, with many African countries under the aegis of the African Union using it to show and express their aversion of and opposition to these illegal sanctions

“Thank you, United Republic of Tanzania!

“Zimbabwe shall forever remember and remain indebted to the late President John Pombe Magufuli for piloting and championing this far-reaching SADC decision,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Equally, we shall forever thank the Government and the people of the sister United Republic of Tanzania on the bold and enduring expression of solidarity embodied in the decision, and very much in character with Tanzania’s traditional pan-African, pro-liberation outlook.”

Zimbabwe was already witnessing positive moves from the “combined African and world pressure against sanctions”, he said.

Some European nations are now pushing for the lifting of the embargo, while sections of the American business community are showing “substantial interest” to invest in Zimbabwe.

“There is a growing readiness to hear us, and to respond positively to our overall re-engagement efforts and overtures.

“While the United States government still remains hostile and obdurate, at people-to-people level, more and more American individuals, businesses and organisations are beginning to engage and warm up to us, including expressing real, substantial interest in participating in our economy,” he added.

“Indeed, while in New York, I engaged and interfaced with many such friendly interests.

“Zimbabwe remains open for business, and at all times commits itself to being a friend to all and an enemy to none.”

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