Zvamaida Murwira-Senior Reporter
OVER the past 22 years, Zimbabwe has lost more than US$150 billion in potential revenue, opportunities, donor support and loans due to illegal sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union but the Second Republic has since turned around the adverse effects of the punitive measures through a cocktail of transformative initiatives, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has said.
The economic initiatives, said VP Chiwenga, include engagement and re-engagement and inward looking policies and have seen the country’s Gross Domestic Product rising from US$20 billion to US$40 billion over the past five years.
VP Chiwenga said this yesterday in Harare while addressing a huge gathering mainly constituted by civil servants to commemorate the Anti-Sanctions Day that was set aside by SADC to register the region’s displeasure with the illegal sanctions imposed by the West.
“My address to you today marks 22 years since the imposition of sanctions by Western countries led by the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA). The sanctions include financial restrictions and economic measures that alienate Zimbabwe from global supply chains and the global financial system as well as bar capital inflows mainly from the West,” said VP Chiwenga.
“Since 2001, we estimate that Zimbabwe has lost or missed over 150 billion United States dollars through frozen assets, trade embargoes, export and investment restrictions from potential bilateral donor support, development loans, International Monetary Fund and World Bank balance of payment support and commercial loans.
“This has forced our Gross Domestic Product to contract drastically in the two decades that followed the imposition of sanctions. The illegal sanctions are also a direct attack on Zimbabwe’s currency which is our sovereign currency of choice, hence our motherland remains subdued by the United States dollar.”
But regardless of the sanctions, the inception of the Second Republic saw the fortunes changing for the better as President Mnangagwa turned adversity into opportunity.
“Whilst the first two decades of the illegal sanctions wreaked havoc on us and devastated our economy whose highlight was the economic collapse of 2008, Zimbabwe is learning to survive under the siege and scourge of sanctions. We have come to realise that economic growth does not come from handouts but from using the resources endowed to us by the Almighty God,” said VP Chiwenga.
He said the United Nations has acknowledged through its Special Rapporteur that the illegal sanctions had an adverse effect on fundamental human rights that should be enjoyed by Zimbabweans.
“The United Nations is a multilateral organisation that is better positioned to provide legitimacy and credence to issues in international relations. In 2021, the United Nations appointed Ms Alena Douhan as a Special Rapporteur on the Coercive Unilateral Sanctions on Zimbabwe. She found out that, ‘Over the last 20 years, sanctions and various forms of over-compliance with sanctions have had a subtle ripple effect on the economy of Zimbabwe. Further, they have negatively impacted on the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, including access to health, food, safe drinking water and sanitation, education and employment,” VP Chiwenga said.
“The United Nations Rapporteur also observed that the situation limits Zimbabwe’s ability to guarantee the functioning of public institutions, delivery of services, and maintenance of essential infrastructure. To this end, this undermines the right to development of the Zimbabwean people and impedes the achievement of sustainable development goals. The sanctions, which have been repeatedly extended, do not correspond to the requirements of Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The sanctions on Zimbabwe are thus illegal, unfair and a violation of our sovereignty and right to self- determination.”
He said the pretext proffered by the US and its allies to justify the imposition of sanctions was ridiculous and had no merit.
“The United Kingdom claims that it imposed sanctions to discourage the Government of Zimbabwe and any person or entity from abusing Zimbabweans as well as to promote the rule of law and good governance. Meanwhile, the United States claims it imposed and maintains sanctions on Zimbabwe as a favour to provide for a transition to democracy and to promote economic recovery. Zimbabwe has a sovereign right to elect its own leaders and to govern itself without external interference. Nyika Inovakwa, Nekutongwa Nevene Vayo. Ilizwe Lakhiwa, Libuswe Ngabanikazi Balo. A country is built and ruled by its own people.
“Despite having a huge population in the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe does not seek to interfere with the politics and electoral processes of the United Kingdom or the United States of America,” said VP Chiwenga.
“It is also surprising how the United States seeks to promote Zimbabwe’s economic recovery with an Act that strangles the Zimbabwean economy and limits its participation in the global economic system.
“Despite the sanctions that have weakened our institutions and degraded our infrastructure, Zimbabwe has religiously held free and fair general elections every five years. The sanctions which seek to induce a change of government in Zimbabwe are in essence creating an unfair electoral playing field by supporting, favouring and capacitating regime change agents against the will of Zimbabweans.”
The West, he said, was using democracy, human rights and economic recovery packaged as ‘Responsibility to Protect’ as a cover to punish Zimbabwe for reclaiming land from colonial landlords and redistributing it to the landless majority.
“Zimbabwe refused to be part of Pax Britannica and the Empire responded with a vengeance. To these countries, the Zimbabwean experiment of reclaiming land forcibly taken away from the indigenous people should not be allowed to succeed at all costs lest the rest of the disempowered societies in the world will follow suit.
“Zimbabwe demands no more than equal status with the rest of the countries in the world which are enjoying full rights of self-determination as enshrined in the 1945 United Nations Charter. Our foreign policy is underpinned by the mantra ‘We are an enemy to none and friend to all’, in which we seek win-win friendly collaborations with all countries in the world,” VP Chiwenga said.
He commended the African Union and Sadc, countries such as China, Russia and other progressive nations for standing behind Zimbabwe.
“The Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China and other friendly countries, have also stood by Zimbabwe and helped us fight the effects of the heinous sanctions including blocking a resolution that sought to legitimise the sanctions in the United Nations Security Council. May I take this opportunity to thank all the continental and regional blocs as well as the countries, organisations and individuals that have stood firm with Zimbabwe on the sanctions issue,” said VP Chiwenga.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Frederick Shava said yesterday’s march was meant to register the country and the region’s displeasure with the sanctions.
“We are guided by the mantra ‘Zimbabwe is a friend to all and enemy to none’ . We demand an unconditional removal of sanctions,” said Minister Shava.
Yesterday’s event was attended by Government ministers, who included Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, Youth Empowerment Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire, Zanu PF Politburo members, Permanent Secretaries of ministries, and senior Government officials.
It started with a march from Munhumutapa Building along Samora Machel, moved towards Julius Nyerere Way and proceeded along Nelson Mandela Avenue before heading to Africa Unity Square — the main venue of the commemorations.