The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has reiterated its call for the removal of all forms of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe to pave way for socio-economic transformation and economic development of the country .
In a statement to mark anti- sanctions solidarity day, SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, said the removal of sanctions will pave the way for socio-economic transformation and economic development of Zimbabwe.
Dr Tax said this will also enhance cooperation of SADC with the European Union and the United States of America.
She reiterated that the sanctions have proved to be directly affecting entities beyond the so-called targeted individuals as they include the unlawful restrictions on multilateral financing and business dealings .
In the statement, SADC noted that beyond multilateral financing, the sanctions have over the years extended to strategic economic sectors of the economy which include manufacturing, agricultural, infrastructure investments, mining and tourism sectors.
SADC also highlighted that sanctions have also had a negative impact on state owned enterprises which traditionally contributed significantly to the country’s gross domestic product.
“At the peak of the Zimbabwean economy state owned enterprises contributed close to 40 percent of the Zimbabwean economy and as at now, is estimated to contribute about 14 percent,” the statement read.
“In recognising the socio-economic impact of the sanctions on Zimbabwe,the 39th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Dares Salaam,Tanzania expressed solidarity with Zimbabwe,and called for the immediate lifting of the sanctions to facilitate socio-economic recovery in the country,”she said.
Dr Tax highlighted that the implosion of the Zimbabwean economy has added a burden to the social services of neighbouring countries due to mass emigration.
“SADC therefore calls upon the European Union, the United States of America, Multilateral organisations and international community to recognise that sanctions on Zimbabwe have far reaching social, economic and financial implications, which not only affect Zimbabwe’s economy and Zimbabweans, but also affect the region at large,” said Dr Lawrence Tax.
