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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Ordinary Zimbabweans are the target of illegal sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies, and not the so-called individuals as claimed by the Western nations, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said. He said the talk of absence of human rights and democracy in Zimbabwe by the West was a smokescreen to justify the imposition of the illegal sanctions following the country’s successful Land Reform Programme.

VP Mohadi said this while addressing thousands of people who gathered at the National Sports Stadium to commemorate the SADC-initiated anti-sanctions march.

“The call of democracy has always been a smokescreen to justify imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe, yet the bone of contention which we are all aware of is the legitimate land reform programme that Zimbabwe embarked upon.

“The sanctions, targeted as they are said to be, are causing a lot of despondency to our citizens.

“The citizens of Zimbabwe are actually the target of sanctions as they bear the price,” said VP Mohadi.

“Sanctions are destabilising our nation and our progress.

“They are shooting down the epoch of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and ultimately derailing the Vision 2030.”

Addressing the same gathering, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Acting Minister Professor Amon Murwira said the calling of the removal of sanctions was no longer a Zimbabwean issue alone, but a regional and continental effort.

“Today we are not speaking as a lone voice in the wilderness, but as a legion of voices supported by our fellow SADC region, our broader African continent and all constructive and progressing countries and entities beyond the African continent,” said Prof Murwira, who is also Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister.

“They thought the sanctions will isolate and break us, they thought the world would join them in vilifying us, they thought our comrades and friends will forsake us. But today, SADC has shown them that their stance on Zimbabwe is at odds with the tenets of good international relations.

“They have shown them that their stance is regressive and completely out of step with reality of good international relations. By turning out in their numbers across the country, the Zimbabwean people have demonstrated that they stand firmly behind the Government in deploring sanctions.”

He commended SADC and AU for being unwavering in their support for Zimbabwe in the wake of an onslaught by the West.