President Emmerson Mnangagwa has once again called for the lifting of targeted sanctions imposed by the West on Zanu PF officials following allegations of electoral fraud and human rights violations.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York today, Mnangagwa said development programs and other state initiatives are being derailed by the sanctions.
“We are building our country brick by brick, stone upon stone with the support of our friends and partners. As my government continues to entrench democracy, good governance and the rule of law, we are committed to vibrant, competitive and peaceful political contestations. Notwithstanding our success, the ongoing deleterious effects of the illegal sanctions continue to hamper and slowdown our progress and the realization of sustainable and inclusive development.
“Zimbabwe is a peace-loving country. We remain indebted to the SADC region and the African Union as well as other progressive members in the committee of nations for their unwavering support and calls for the removal of these unwarranted and unjustified sanctions on Zimbabwe. We once again call for their immediate end and unconditional removal.”
But Den Moyo, a political activist, said Mnangagwa should address issues that have been highlighted by the West as conditions for removing the restrictive measures.
Moyo said, "Mnangagwa is currently targeting opponents and jailing them for having different views from his government. This includes the detention of Citizens Coalition for Change lawmakers Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole together with several CCC activists. As a result, he can't expect the West to lift targeted sanctions when his government is doing such things.
"At the same time, he does not want us in the diaspora to vote. These are some of the issues that Zimbabweans are concerned about. I can simply say he lied at the UN General Assembly by painting a rosy picture about Zimbabwe. He read what was prepared for him by his handlers. Nothing else. All those things don't exist in Zimbabwe."
Mnangagwa has addressed the UN General Assembly several times and in most cases he has called for the removal of sanctions, which he claims were "imposed by the West on Zimbabwe".