ON a significant day for Zimbabwe, citizens took to the streets of the capital, Harare, to voice their frustration and concerns regarding the crippling sanctions imposed on their nation by the United States and other Western countries for more than two decades. The protest, which took place during a campaign to mark Anti-Sanctions Day on October 25, saw a passionate crowd demanding an end to the restrictions.
Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga addressed the gathered crowd during the Anti-Sanctions Day campaign, shedding light on the profound impact of these sanctions on the country’s economic development. He explained that the sanctions, which include financial restrictions and illegal economic measures, have disconnected Zimbabwe from global supply chains and the international financial system while obstructing capital inflows, primarily from Western nations.
Chiwenga stated that these illegal sanctions have led to a substantial contraction of Zimbabwe’s economy over the past two decades. He emphasised the staggering economic losses, saying, ‘Since 2001, we estimate that Zimbabwe has lost or missed over $150bn through frozen assets, trade embargoes, export and investment restrictions, potential bilateral donor support, development loans, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank balance of payment support, and commercial loans.’
The sanctions were initially imposed by the United States in 2001 in response to Zimbabwe’s government’s decision to address colonial injustices by redistributing land to indigenous Zimbabweans. These restrictions have had a severe impact on the country, resulting in widespread calls for their removal, both domestically and internationally.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc consisting of 16 countries, designated October 25 as Anti-Sanctions Day in 2019 to express solidarity with Zimbabwe in its opposition to the sanctions.
During the anti-sanctions march, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Frederick Shava highlighted the significant hardships faced by businesses in Zimbabwe. He expressed, ‘These sanctions are a real albatross on our neck. They are affecting every aspect of our economy. They are affecting business in the sense that our businesses cannot interact internationally because they are being denied transactions in banks when they do business.’
Shava added, ‘Our industry and commerce would have been thriving by now, but it’s being hindered by these sanctions.’
Ruvarashe Hapaguti, a young online content creator, pointed out the daily struggles faced by ordinary citizens due to sanctions. She revealed that the financial restrictions imposed on Zimbabwe limit the participation of young people in the digital world and negatively affect artists who promote their work on social media platforms.
‘As an artist that promotes their work on social media platforms, I receive less money than I am supposed to get because of the sanctions imposed on us. Some of the daily banking transactions and remittances are limited because of these sanctions,’ Hapaguti lamented.
Martin Zharare, the executive director of the anti-sanctions group Citizens Against Economic Sanctions, raised concerns that the embargo has been used as part of a regime change agenda by the Western nations. He stressed that sanctions should not be employed as a political tool to bring disaster or anarchy to Zimbabwe.
In her report published in September 2022, Alena Douhan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, underscored the significant impact of sanctions, including secondary sanctions and over-compliance
by foreign banks and companies, on both the people and th
e government of Zimbabwe. She emphasised that these sanctions have exacerbated preexisting economic and humanitarian challenges in the country.
The protest in Harare serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring struggle that Zimbabweans face due to sanctions and their desire for a better economic future.
