The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has renewed the AU’s call for the immediate and unconditional lifting of all remaining sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe.
Mahamat issued a statement on Friday, in support of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) commemoration of SADC Anti-Sanctions Day.
“The Chairperson acknowledges the engagement with the European Union through political dialogue. In this regard, he encourages all parties to continue constructive dialogue with a view to remove the remaining sanctions against institutions and individuals of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” the statement read.
Mahamat stressed that he remains concerned by the negative impact of continued sanctions against Zimbabwe to the country’s socio-economic development and recovery efforts.
He expressed full support of the African Union to the SADC in its efforts to address the matter.
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In his capacity as the Chairperson of SADC and President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa noted that SADC Member States have always stood in solidarity with Zimbabwe.
He characterised the sanctions as illegal measures which violate the basic human rights of ordinary Zimbabweans.
“I wish to echo the unrelenting voices and pleas by the outgoing SADC Chairperson His Excellency, João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and other past Chairpersons and, indeed, our brothers and sisters in the Region in condemning and calling for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the sanctions.
“It is the ordinary people, particularly the vulnerable, who bear the brunt of these heinous and inhumane measures, which also stifle economic and social progress in Zimbabwe,” Mnangagwa stated.
The Zimbabwean President emphasized that the imposition of sanctions undermines the collective efforts toward regional integration and sustainable development.
