EU dismisses Zim’s anti sanctions call ahead of regional solidarity call

Staff Writer

THE European Union (EU) has dismissed Zimbabwe’s call for the removal of sanctions arguing that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration must instead focus on implementing deeper reforms to attract investors.

This comes as SADC nations will on Sunday commemorate the Anti-Sanctions Day under the theme “Resilience, Progress and Solidarity under an environment of sanctions”, an apt description considering the trials and tribulations that Zimbabweans have endured under the yoke of the illegal economic embargoes.

But in a statement Friday, the EU delegation in Zimbabwe dismissed the efforts and instead urged the regional bloc to use their influence towards implementing the right moves.

“The EU restrictive measures have no impact on trade and the tariff and quota free privileged access of goods from Zimbabwe to the EU market, granted by the Economic and Partnership Agreement (#EPA) ratified in 2012,” the Western bloc said.

Mnangagwa’s government believes that the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) of 2001 and subsequent orders imposed by the US and the European Union (EU) against the country as impediments to the much needed development for almost 20 years.

But over the years the Western Bloc has dismissed the claims effectively arguing that Zimbabwe is where it is today largely because of its own errors and omissions.