The European Union and the United States should lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo said at Malawi’s 44th Independence Day festivities in Lilongwe. In reaction to Zimbabwe’s land reform initiative, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA) was first used in 2001 to impose these sanctions.
Tembo reaffirmed Malawi’s backing for the urgent easing of economic sanctions against Zimbabwe made by the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). She underlined that rather than penalties that impede the free flow of products, Zimbabwe needs help for its growth as a developing country.
The Zimbabwean Ambassador to Malawi, Nancy Saungweme, echoed the sentiment, emphasising that sanctions have had a negative impact on Zimbabwe’s economy and livelihoods and calling for the unconditional removal of the sanctions in addition to urging regional and international partners to support Zimbabwe’s national development strategy for mutual benefit.
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Nancy Tembo highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Malawi and Zimbabwe and praised cooperation under the Malawi/Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC), particularly in the trade, customs, and transport sectors.
In spite of recent events, such as US President Joe Biden’s revocation of a 2003 executive order that singled out political leaders in Zimbabwe, fresh sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Programme were placed on 11 people, among them President Emmerson Mnangagwa. These penalties were put in place in response to accusations of corruption and violations of human rights.
The trade and economic activities were affected by the sanctions, which also targeted organisations associated with Mnangagwa and his allies. Regional assistance for Zimbabwe’s economic recovery is still a major topic of conversation as sanctions negotiations go on, with appeals for cooperation and unity in promoting growth.