Minister Shava Updates SADC on Sanctions

Ambassador Shava said all the efforts by SADC continue to demonstrate solidarity for Zimbabwe to chart its own development path without the albatross of the sanctions.

Africa Moyo-Deputy News Editor

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Ambassador Frederick Shava, yesterday updated SADC about the purported removal of sanctions by the United States, but reiterated that Zimbabwe wants nothing short of total removal of the heinous embargo. In his address during the SADC Council of Ministers in Luanda, Angola, yesterday, Ambassador Shava said Zimbabwe wanted all sanctions to go. “You may be aware, Chair (Angola Minister of External Relations Ambassador Téte António), of the recent decisions by the United States of America government to terminate the Presidential Executive Order sanctions regime on Zimbabwe,” he said. “While this is a welcome development, it falls far, far short of what we expect and want. The fact that 11 Zimbabwean individuals have been placed on the so-called Global Magnitsky sanctions programme certainly points to the insincerity of the USA government on this matter. “Our region, through SADC, has a long-standing position on sanctions against one of its members, my country. I am aware that the region’s position will inform and guide our discussion on the proposed SADC-USA Dialogue Forum. “Chair, Zimbabwe would like to thank SADC countries for supporting the call for the lifting of the illegal and unwarranted sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries.” ReadMore