The African Union and SADC Call for the Lifting of Sanctions on Zimbabwe
In a joint statement, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have urged for the unconditional removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. This call was made on SADC’s Anti-Sanctions Day, observed annually on Oct. 25.
President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, who is also the current SADC chairperson, emphasized the negative impact of these sanctions on the socio-economic development and recovery efforts of Zimbabwe. He highlighted that the sanctions undermine regional integration and sustainable development.
In Zimbabwe, the Broad Alliance against Sanctions organized a demonstration outside the US Embassy in Harare to demand the removal of US-imposed sanctions. The group believes that the sanctions have contributed to the economic challenges faced by the country, while the US Embassy refutes these claims, attributing Zimbabwe’s economic crisis to government corruption.
According to the US Embassy, the sanctions only affect a limited number of individuals and companies in Zimbabwe, and the real issues plaguing the country are related to economic mismanagement and corruption.