ZIMBABWE – The main opposition party in Zimbabwe, MDC-Alliance has blasted the government’s attempt to appeal for the removal of sanctions through music galas without addressing the reasons behind them and labeled this action as just a ploy to seek sympathy from it’s allies in SADC and Eastern block.
The comments were made by the party’s deputy spokesperson, Dr Felix Sibanda.
Dr Sibanda made the comments in the aftermath of the Anti-Sanctions Day Gala which was held in Bulawayo to commemorate the second anniversary of the solidarity day declared by the SADC region against the restrictions put on Zimbabwe by the Western countries.
“After following Mr ED Mnangagwa,the Zanu PF President’s so-called Sanctions appeal to the USA and EU countries to abandon targeted sanctions, we, as the MDC-A are left with no doubt that ,this defacto administration is just but seeking primitive sympathy from none other than its Eastern and SADC allies and nomore.
MDC-Alliance’s deputy spokesperson also took the opportunity to dispel the allegations that have been set against the members of the party and the party as a whole, that MDC-Alliance or some of it’s members were responsible for the imposition of the sanctions of Zimbabwe.
Some sections of the country, particularly Zanu-Pf aligned voices have accused MDC of calling for sanctions against the country and have tended to single out current MDC-Alliance vice president, Tendai Biti.
“For the record,Zidera is the brainchild of some democratic nationals and progressive human rights defenders worldwide and not the MDC as peddled by the habitual liars.
“The only formidable option for Zanu PF Administration to have these targeted restrictive measures removed is to fulfill all the requirements of the Zidera Act in totality not piecemeal matrix.
“As the MDC-A and all Pro democracy organisations worldwide,we are demanding total observance of human rights and good governance without conditions from the same Defacto ED Administration.
“MDC-A is neither the initiator nor originator of these targeted sanctions but it’s Zanu PF mismanagement of economy, corruption, socioeconomic and geopolitical sustainability and the flagrant disregard and abuse of the people’s freedoms and liberties,” said Dr Sibanda.
Sibanda said as the MDC-Alliance they were demanding total respect for human rights and the Constitution.
He also added that these reforms were the only way to change the position by the West on Zimbabwe.
“Without mincing our words, we demand total observance of all human rights and the unconditional upholding and respect of the people’s freedoms and liberties as enshrined in the National Constitution.
“Nothing will happen or change as long as the Regime keeps on violating the people’s freedom and liberties and acting ultra vires the National Constitution.Hoping and praying for the entrance of a new Administration in the USA will not help change the American foreign policy but a change of attitude towards the people and the total respect of the people’s freedoms and liberties and the implimentation of the Constitution in toto may be the fastest way to have these targetted sanctions removed is total compliance with the Zidera requirements and specific conditions not celebrative galas.”
He also argued that the State was the one imposing sanctions on it’s people, saying” freedom was now a preserve for the few people with connections to the politically powerful.
He said, “The only sanctions that are hurting the ordinary Citizens are those that are imposed on the people by the state.There are too many sanctions imposed on the people by the State.The People are captives in their own land.Freedom is a preserve of the few politically connected.
“In as much as the State is seeking a removal of targeted sanctions on the few Politically connected magnets may it also remove all the sanctions it imposed on the Zimbabweans.”
Zimbabwe has been on sanctions since the turn of the 21st century and the government has blamed these sanctions for the economic crisis the country has found itself in.