Zimbabwe has received astounding support as countries and various organisations stand in solidarity with her in the fight against illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the United States of America and its allies
The Islamic Republic of Iran has stood firm in support of the noble cause as Iran’s top diplomat to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Ambassador Abbas Navaza says over the years, sanctions have taken a serious toll on Iran’s economy and Zimbabweans must remain united and not let the countries that imposed the embargo to triumph.
Zimbabweans in the diaspora have also amplified the call for the unconditional lifting of the economic sanctions imposed on the country by the west, saying the embargoes are illegal and unjustified.
Harare’s Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Engineer Oliver Chidhawu has also urged all progressive Zimbabweans to join hands and use the anti-sanctions day on Sunday to speak with one voice, calling for the unconditional lifting of economic sanctions imposed by the USA, Britain and their western allies on Zimbabwe.
A Gweru based private company, Fuest Industrial Supplies, which deals with metal supplies, stands as one example of how the local industry has suffered from illegal western sanctions.
A visit to the firm by the ZBC News crew laid bare how the sanctions are hurting the ordinary citizens, contrary to claims that they are targeted.
The year 2013 saw three Gweru based companies coming together to form Fuest Industrial Supplies, a company that would deal with the export of metals in a contract that would ultimately benefit the country in boosting the export receipts.
Correspondence in possession of ZBC News indicates that the new company did not waste time as it clinched a 340 thousand US dollar deal in 2014 with a South African company that could translate to five million US dollars once the initial deal had sailed through.
The new kid on the bloc’s fortunes quickly ran out as the US’s Office of Assets Control (OFAC) invoked ZIDERA to block an initial payment of 33 thousand 414 dollars, in a move that would jeopardise the whole deal and threaten the existence of the local company.
“We had our contract to supply metals to South Africa which was well intact. We made our deliveries and to our surprise, our funds were blocked by OFAC,” said Marvellous Tapfuma.
“We tried to engage them and they cited the clearance of the exports by MMCZ as the reason for the blockade. We even tried to tell them that it is within the Zimbabwean laws that we couldn’t make any exports of metals without the involvement of MMCZ but they have remained adamant.
“We have since engaged the ambassador and the offices of the US treasury to clarify the issue and up to now, we are in catch 22. The situation has really affected us as this has been going on for the past five years.”
Fuest Industrial Supplies Operations Manager, Mr Lovemore Nyakura tells a sad story of how he used money from his other businesses to invest in the new venture only to be affected by the sanctions induced to move by OFAC.
“We used to run buses and doing spring businesses. After we joined forces, I realised that the new venture was more lucrative,” said Nyakura.
“I then closed the buses business and channelled the capital to the new venture a move that has destroyed my business completely. What hurts me the most is the rhetoric that these sanctions are targeted at individuals but I was reduced to almost a pauper because of these sanctions.”
Tension Spring Centre Private Limited, whose Managing Director is Mr Nyakura, used to employ 73 people at its peak and had to close shop for four years, owing to the sanctions, and is currently rebuilding with only 13 employees to its name.
Efforts to recover from the sanctions induced hardships for the merged company are still ongoing but coming at a huge cost to the proprietors.
“We have been travelling up and down to South Africa. The travel and hotel bills have been a huge toll on us as we were trying to explain the anomaly,” said Brian Zijenah.
“Even if we are to recover the money frozen by OFAC today our losses have been huge. We are currently making phone calls to the US as well as travelling to and from Harare engaging the embassy.”
