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Lawson Mabhena News and Politics Editor
The People’s Republic of China stands firmly behind the collective efforts of the SADC region in speaking against illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western “bullies”.

Speaking to The Herald yesterday, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Guo Shaochun, who will be participating in today’s anti-sanctions day proceedings, said the sanctions have caused unnecessary suffering to ordinary Zimbabweans.

China, Ambassador Guo said, has not only supported Zimbabwe through aid and infrastructure development, but also through a historical United Nations Security Council veto.

In 2008, Russia and China vetoed a Western-backed UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe, a vote that rendered the sanctions illegal.

“We stand for the solidarity march on October 25. We join SADC countries in making our just voices heard for the rejection and removal of those illegal sanctions that have been making Zimbabwean people suffer.

“During the past nearly four decades, China and Zimbabwe enjoyed rock-solid trust. We strongly supported Zimbabwe’s struggle for national liberation against colonialism and racism. After Zimbabwe’s independence, we continue supporting Zimbabwe standing up to bullies, foreign powers.

“Sanctions now have become a tool of some Western countries to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs to serve their own interests,” Ambassador Guo said.

“Some countries’ hegemonism, double standards and obsession with the old dream of colonialism are the biggest threats to African countries. What Zimbabwe needs is real support and real partners, not sanctions and teachers.”
Recently, US lawmakers passed a Bill paving way for diplomatic action and economic sanctions against China.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act is similar to the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 and China has since declared that it will “definitely take strong counter-measures” against foreign interference.

“China is strongly against sanctions or threats of sanctions used as a political tool to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. This is our consistent position,” Ambassador Guo said.

“In 2008, we vetoed the proposed resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe at the UN Security Council, which was the only and first time China has exercised veto power at the Security Council for an African country.”