THE United States of America yesterday admitted that
illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are affecting ordinary Zimbabweans.
The US had previously argued that sanctions were targeted
to a few individuals and companies.
Speaking soon after paying a courtesy call to Zanu-PF
secretary for information and publicity, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday, the US
Ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols said the Zanu-PF leadership raised their
concerns on illegal sanctions imposed by Washington.
“We exchanged views with the ruling party and want to
understand what Zanu-PF’s perspective on events currently taking place in the
country as well as to talk about the importance of continued reforms, political
and economic, the fight against corruption and to have a frank conversation
about USA and Zimbabwean policies.
“Clearly, the Government of Zimbabwe has its concerns about
the USA policy on sanctions and Zidera, the way they implement those reforms,
that is the way to change in those policies Zimbabwe is concerned about,” said
Ambassador Nichols.
Government has described the extension of sanctions on
Zimbabwe by the United States as a travesty of justice saying Zimbabwe has
embarked on a path of rapprochement and expected a reciprocal gesture from
Washington.
He added: “We have a continued discussion about reforms,
human rights, freedom of speech and clearly the Government of Zimbabwe has its
concerns about the USA policy on sanctions and Zidera,” said Ambassador
Nichols.
SADC, the African Union and other progressive forces have
repeatedly called for the unconditional lifting of sanctions imposed against
Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Nichols commended the Government on its fight
against corruption which have witnessed high profile figures implicated on
corruption activities being arrested.
“We talked about continued reforms political and economic
the fight against corruption and come up with a linkage between USA and
Zimbabwean policies. We want to see this country succeed,” he said.
Cde Khaya Moyo said that it was a matter of exchanging
views on current developments taking place in the country.
“We want to make him understand that Government is a
product of the party and it is important that whatever Government implements
originate from the party policy.
“As far as we know our relationship with the USA has always
been excellent since independence until we embarked on our land reform
programme which was a matter between us and the British.
“America never colonised us and we wondered when the
British started imposing sanctions on us with all their friends in Europe,
America joined them. We had no quarrels with them, but we had a quarrel with
British because they had reneged on the Lancaster House agreement in terms of
land redistribution for resettlements.
“The new government of Tony Blair then said they were not
involved in the Lancaster House conference therefore they had nothing to do
with what was agreed upon our effort to take back our land that was the basis
of the liberation struggle.”
“We did remind him of that and thanked him also for the
assistance America tried to give to the British to help raise more money to
purchase this land and in terms of relations now we were very clear that
America is not our enemy.” Herald
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