Peter Matambanadzo and Farirai Machivenyika
Visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms Navanethem Pillay, yesterday admitted the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries are a gross human rights abuse and have a harmful impact on the country and

its people.
She said this during a public lecture at the University of Zimbabwe on human rights attended by Justice

Minister Patrick Chinamasa, his deputy Obert Gutu, Supreme and High Court judges, diplomats, senior Government officials and students.

“I would like to turn my attention to some additional issues that have been brought to my attention during my meetings over the past days. One such issue is the impact of sanctions imposed by some Western Governments on Zimbabwe, on economic, social and cultural rights.

“Some of my interlocutors have argued that these sanctions have had a negative impact on the population,” Ms Pillay said.
She said according to a 2011 Zimbabwe Demographic Health survey, the maternal mortality rate was now 960 per 100 000 live births, whereas in 2005-2006 it was at 555, an increase of more than 45 percent in just six years.

“At the same time, the limited access to clean water has led to outbreaks of typhoid and cholera. I recognise that other factors may be contributing to these declining indicators. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that sanctions have had a harmful impact on Zimbabweans,” Ms Pillay said.
She said although sanctions might diminish the capacity of a State to fund or support some of the measures necessary for the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights, the State remains under obligation to ensure the absence of discrimination in relation to enjoyment of these rights.

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Ms Pillay said the State should take all possible measures, including negotiations with other States and the international community, to reduce to a minimum the negative impact upon the rights of vulnerable groups within society.
Ms Pillay also said those countries imposing sanctions have to take economic, social and cultural rights into account when designing an appropriate sanction regime.
“Furthermore they are obliged to take steps, individually and through international assistance and co-operation, to respond to any disproportionate suffering experienced by vulnerable groups within the targeted country,” she said.

Ms Pillay also talked on good governance, corruption, diversion of funds, mismanagement and the role of the civil society in the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights.

The United States, Britain and European Union imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe a decade ago.
The sanctions have devastated the economy and social sectors of the country.
Ordinary Zimbabweans now wallow in untold poverty and suffering and they have lost jobs.

Ms Pillay also met diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe yesterday. Details of the meeting could not be obtained yesterday as Ms Pillay and the diplomats declined to comment.

Journalists and Government officials were barred from the room during the deliberations.
“No, no this is just confidential,” Ms Pillay said soon after the meeting that lasted over an hour.
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr Mwanananga Mwawampanga, also refused to comment.

Ms Pillay has been in the country since Sunday at the invitation of Government and has met with President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Cabinet Ministers and civic society groups.