There is nothing new about the renewal of the illegal
sanctions imposed by the United States and Zimbabwe will continue engagement
and re-engagement with the international community, President Mnangagwa has
said.
He was addressing a packed Zanu PF rally at Matizha
Business Centre in Gutu, organised by the Zanu PF provincial executive in
Masvingo.
Earlier, the President had led a clean-up at Mupandawana
Bus terminus.
This week, the US extended its illegal sanctions regime
against Zimbabwe by another year, but the President said there was nothing new
since the country had been under the same embargo for the past two decades.
Countries willing to work with Zimbabwe, said President
Mnangagwa, should first acknowledge the land reform programme and accept that
it was a closed chapter.
“You may have heard that the US renewed its sanctions on
us. There is nothing new there. We have been with these sanctions for the past
20 years. These are the same sanctions they have renewed. As Zimbabwe, we have
a policy of engagement and re-engagement. The whole of Sadc is standing with
us. You may recall that on October 25, 2019, Sadc countries in their respective
countries had various programmes calling the Americans to remove their
sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“All embassies of Sadc countries and the African Union (AU)
also did the same. When we went to the United Nations in September last year,
our continental organisation, the African Union told the UN to call for the
removal of all forms of sanctions on Zimbabwe.”
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would continue calling
for the unconditional lifting of the sanctions.
He said the sanctions were unjustified.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was a peace-loving
country which had not committed any crime against the Americans or the British.
In any case, he said, it was the British who wronged Zimbabwe by grabbing its
land.
“Actually, it’s the British who committed a crime against
us when they came here and took our land.
“We waged the armed struggle and took back our land and
said they (British) should also go back to their country. They were not happy
with that, but the land reform programme is irreversible and to us it’s a
closed chapter. Those who want to be our friends should befriend us knowing
that land reform is irreversible. We are not going back on that. Embrace us as
we are, then we work together like that.”
President Mnangagwa emphasised the need for production at
household level. He said his administration had declared 2020 as a year of
production. Turning to party politics, President Mnangagwa called for unity and
discipline.
“I want to say to you all, we want building of the party. I
am happy that here in Masvingo you are a one Party State. You have shown love
both to the party and to me as your leader. You must defend your party all the
time. We don’t want people who defend the party during the day and denounce it
at night. Be truthful to the party all the time.” Herald
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