Published by the government of Zimbabwe
13 November 2009
Harare — THE benefits of the inclusive Government far outweigh any challenges it faces but the illegal economic sanctions must still be lifted forthwith, the Zimbabwe/South Africa Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security has said.
In a Press statement released last night following deliberations throughout yesterday, the commission said the embargo was hampering efforts aimed at meaningful economic turnaround.
"The commission called for the removal of all sanctions against Zimbabwe, whose debilitating effects have unnecessarily constrained and impeded the efforts of the inclusive Government to effectively tackle the economic, political and social difficulties affecting the masses of Zimbabwe over the past decade."
The position is in line with repeated calls by Sadc, Comesa, the Pan African Parliament, the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and many other groupings' calling for an immediate end to the sanctions.
Zimbabwe was represented at yesterday's meeting by State Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Minister of Defence Emmerson Mnangagwa, and Co-Home Affairs Ministers Kembo Mohadi and Giles Mutsekwa.
Last month MDC-T's Minister Mutsekwa openly called for the lifting of sanctions at a meeting of Home Affairs Ministers and police chiefs in Singapore.
The commission yesterday commended Zimbabwe's political leadership for its resolve to improve the situation in the country.
"The commission noted that since its last meeting in September 2007, an inclusive Government had been inaugurated in Zimbabwe and this had a positive impact in the political, economic and social spheres.
"The commission congratulated the Zimbabwean political leadership for efforts to commit themselves to resolve the outstanding issues in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement after the Maputo 5 November 2009 Sadc Organ Troika Summit."
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A perfect article about nothing,meant to keep a simmering Tribal war from exploding,the next election will make the last look like a Sunday School picnic,I can see a Mass Slaughter on the horizon.
Alan, When you have nothing to contribute, it is a good thing to just shut up your “anglomianic” big mouth!!! Tribal society must find their own comfortable way of dealing with issues. Colonialists came to Africa and eventually claimed things were better for the natives. In truth they were busy hiding the truth about Hunger, Malnutrition, child death during the colonial period. Alan, there are some blogs that like the rubbish you say and I strongly suggest you move there.
Anyone and everyone in Africa can call for an end to "sanctions" against Zimbabwe, but the rest of us in the real world are looking at facts on the ground. What sort of problems requiring "African solutions for African problems" has SADC actually solved? How has SADC responded to ZANU-Poof's repudiation of the SADC Tribunal after ZANU-Poof had agreed to be bound by their rulings (until they recieved an adverse ruling)? NOTHING............ which would lead any reasonable person to conclude that SADC is an irrelevent "gentlemen's club" where every member backs up every other member, lest their populations look at their own results.......
ZANU-Poof/Mugabe have still not honored the SADC communique which said all disputed issues would be dealt with within the GPA (which was the primary enticement that SADC used to gain MDC-T's signature). The AG and RBZ President which were illegally appointed by Bloodstained Bob are still in place. The regional Governors reflecting MDC-T's electoral power have NOT been appointed. The CIO has not been disbanded. The "War Veterans" (most of whom are too young to have actually fought in the "war") and "Youth Militias" are still perpetrating violence on the opponents of ZANU-Poof. The Police and "Security" services continue the persecution of ZANU-Poof opponents. The press is still not open and free and fair (when has the Herald issued an opinion piece from a MDC-T minister despite the FACT that MDC-T is a part of the government - AND the Herald continues to claim it is a voice of the "government" of Zimbabwe?).
The GPA has shown that ZANU-Poof/Mugabe have NOT changed their stripes! They used the aftermath of the sham elections of 2008 and SADC "intervention" to catch their breath and re-group while at the same time denying the jurisdiction of the SADC Tribunal! Very simply, ZANU-Poof/Mugabe are in favor of SADC when it favors them, and against it when it is against them - you CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS! Either you are a member of SADC and comply with it's structures, or you refuse to comply and are NOT a part of SADC, "you CANNOT have your cake and eat it too"!
When ZANU-Poof/Mugabe agree to negotiate the appointment of the AG and the RBZ Governor, when they agree to abide by the rulings of the SADC Tribunal, when they agree to disband the CIO and the "war veterans" and "youth militias" (does MDC-T or MDC-M have a "militia"? Do Labour and Tories in England have "militias"? Do the Republicans and Democrats in America have "militias"? Then why does ZANU-Poof have one?), when they agree to repeal POSA and to an open and free press............. when they agree to admit UN officials to the country when the PM of the nation of Zimbabwe has invited them.......... THEN the rest of the real world will consider the loosening of the current "sanctions" against 200 or so ZANU-Poof functionaries............. until then? NADA.........
When these things are done, the nations in the real world will consider dropping the "sanctions" against the 200 or so members of ZANU-Poof they are placed. Until then, no one will consider dropping their sanctions.
Otherwise, ZANU-Poof is merely waiting to withstand the storm, regroup and prepare themselves for the next onslaught of terror in order to perpetuate their death-grip on power...........
Until then, the so-called "sanctions" will remain until it can be demonstrated that ZANU-Poof has truly changed their stripes......... The rest of us (in the real world) have seen and heard ZANU-Poof's protestations of innocence before............ THAT is exactly why there are sanctions against 200 or so Zimbabweans affiliated with ZANU-Poof in the first place!
Yes, the inclusive government has some minimal benefits, but until ZANU-Poof is finally eviscerated from their political control of every lever of oppression in Zimbabwe, there will be no justice, no peace, and no removal of sanctions against ZANU-Poof, call it regime change if you like, but if ZANU-Poof was actually shown to benefit the entire nation of Zimbabwe and not just their leadership who have grown so incredibly rich under their kleptocracy while the rest of the nation suffers, then there would be no need for "sanctions".
Given the "performance" of ZANU-Poof/Mugabe over their 30 years in power, wouldn't you think that the people of Zimbabwe are ENTITLED to regime change! ZANU-Poof/Mugabe have failed them in almost every measureable metric! When their "policies" don't work - they point fingers to outsiders and "rhoadies", they NEVER accept blame for their own failure - why is it that the failures of Zimbabwe are ALWAYS someone else's fault? If Zimbabwe was "Totally Empowered!", the influence of "outsiders" would be negligible.
Just like Cholera, when you remove the conditions which make it easy for the disease to afflict the nation, the "condition" improves...... When Zimbabwe removes ZANU-Poof from power, and is truly "Totally Empowered", there will be no sanctions, and their people will truly be "Totally Empowered!".
Yes, ZANU-Poof is exactly like Cholera....... but the "conditions" that allow it to infect the rest of Zimbabwe need to be removed first. For ZANU-Poof, their playbook calls for them to first deny there is any problem whatsoever (remember "there is no cholera in Zimbabwe!" - you DO remember Comrade Bob's statement don't you?)....... Next, you blame the problem on someone else (like TAK, the CIA or MI-6 "planted Cholera and AIDS in foreign foodstuffs")...... Finally, you proclaim that the "someone else" won't allow you to treat the disease or you claim it was "planted" by "foreign elements" to effect "illegal regime change.............
How is it that "Totally Empowered!" states like Cuba and Venzeula don't have outbreaks of Cholera that kill thousands of their people? Aren't they too "oppressed" by the "Imperialist" regimes?
"Total Empowerment!" - ZANU-Poof/Mugabe, like Cholera is the disease, and Zimbabwe, SADC, the AU need to show they can cure it...........
"Total Empowerment!!" - ZANU-Poof/Mugabe said it, the question is (after all the other lies they have told you), do you believe it - your answer will tell all of of us here where you stand....................