By Zvikomborero Machirori
Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for the unconditional and immediate lifting of sanctions that were imposed on Zimbabwean individuals and institutions.
In a statement by SADC Chairperson and President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Fèlix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo said that sanctions are of a “targeted nature”.
“SADC is deeply concerned at the claim that the sanctions are of a “targeted nature” and are aimed at aimed at unilaterally punishing a few individuals.
“The reality is that there is a spill-over and contagion effect on the rest of the country in particular by imposing a blanket negative perception about Zimbabwe across the world, in particular in the sensitive global financial markets” he said.
SADC has appealed to the United States of America to give Zimbabweans spaces to excise their democratic rights.
“In this context, SADC appeals to those who have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe to give space to the citizens of the country to exercise their democratic rights and not use sanctions as a covert mechanism to effect regime change” he added.
President Fèlix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo also added on say that SADC is committed to the spirit of multilateralism.
“SADC is also committed to the spirit of multilateralism, in this regard notes that sanctions imposed against a fellow nation in the family of humanity must be made in accordance with international law” he added.
