MDC-T, an opposition party in Zimbabwe has said the country’s continued international isolation was hurting the general public contrary to the belief that it hurts political elites in the ruling ZANU PF.
These remarks are made following the United Kingdom’s recent imposition of sanctions of four Zimbabwean security chiefs who are accused of presiding over institutions which grossly violated human rights since 2017.
MDC-T’s National Standing Committee held its virtual meeting and condemned the sanctions and ruled that they are hurting the common man on the street, among other reservations.
In a statement that followed the virtual meeting, MDC-T’s spokesperson, Witness Dube in a statement on Thursday said:
The party reiterated its position that the continued international isolation was hurting the common man and woman. It, therefore, calls for the total and equal re-engagement of Zimbabwe with the international community.
The party reiterated that it stands for the unity of all progressive forces to fight for the betterment of the lives of the Zimbabwean people.
The issue of sanctions has divided the Southern African country to the extent everyone who is against the imposition of sanctions on the country is branded ZANU PF while those who support the imposition are considered enemies of the state.
Zimbabwe was isolated at the turn of the millennium when the Robert Mugabe-led administration embarked on a chaotic land reform programme during which many white farmers lost their land.
ZANU PF claims the sanctions were imposed because of the land reform programme and not the violation of human rights as Western powers claim.
Zimbabwe claims the sanctions resulted in the collapse of the economy by:
blocking access to credit lines,
branding Zimbabwe and its entire financial linkages with the rest of the world as high risk
making it extremely difficult for Zimbabwean companies and individuals to effect payments through the international payment platforms.
blocking diaspora remmittances – some money transfer companies cannot transact with some Zimbabwean financial entities through money transfers.
On the other hand, Western powers claim the Zimbabwean economy collapsed as a result of maladministration by the ruling ZANU PF.
Their remarks are consistent with Transparency International ratings which have consistently ranked Zimbabwe among the most corrupt countries in the world.
Some observers, however, say both sanctions and corruption are hurting the country hence the need to address the country’s issues holistically.
