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Joseph Madzimure in VICTORIA FALLS
HE highly-anticipated anti-sanctions solidarity march that was scheduled for this week has been deferred to a date to be announced due to President Mnangagwa’s tight schedule following the deaths of former President Robert Mugabe and Major General Trust Mugoba.

Both have been declared national heroes, with Maj Gen Mugoba set to be buried today at the National Heroes Acre.

The body of Zimbabwe’s founding father, Cde Mugabe, is also expected to arrive in the country today.

Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu, through his Director Dr Henry Mushonga, confirmed the postponement of the anti-sanctions march.

“. . . the highly anticipated anti-sanctions solidarity march, which was expected this week, has been postponed,” said Dr Mpofu. “The march will be notified at a date to be announced. We have postponed the march since the nation is mourning the death of the founding father of Zimbabwe, former President Mugabe.

“The nation is also mourning the gallant son of the nation, Major General Trust Mugoba, who will be buried tomorrow (today) at the National Shrine.”

Dr Mpofu said Zanu-PF was occupied for the whole week, especially considering that it is also hosting the Former Liberation Movements (FLMs) meeting in Victoria Falls.

Dr Mpofu said FLMs were very supportive of the anti-sanctions march.

The march is also in solidarity with President Mnangagwa for assuming the Chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Co-operation at the recent 39th SADC Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Further, the march is in support of SADC member states that have joined the campaign for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States and the European Union.

The sanctions have decimated the economy, especially the manufacturing sector, which is now contending with antiquated equipment, resulting in high costs of production and consequently high prices of finished goods. Dr Mpofu said the march has since been upgraded to a national event.

“We want to make it a national event,” he said. “The solidarity march will include the Government, civil society, students, the business community (and) all political parties, among others. The event is open to everyone.”

The solidarity march comes after SADC countries declared October 25 as a solidarity day against illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and resolved to conduct various activities in their respective countries on the day, to resoundingly call for the immediate removal of the sanctions.

The SADC Secretariat has since been tasked to escalate the lobby with African Union chairperson, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, so that he raises the issue at the upcoming 74th United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month.