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Barack Obama

Dr Chris Mushohwe Correspondent

The measures against the two fertiliser companies by the US Government are calculated to ensure that the countless beneficiaries of our national land reforms are unable to take full advantage of the land that has come their way to build sustainable livelihoods.

The recent decision by the United States of America Government to place two Zimbabwean fertiliser companies under its illegal sanctions constitutes an escalation in US hostility towards our nation.

The latest action comes in the wake of a series of other actions and expressions of hostility by the same government and establishment.

The two companies which the latest US actions target are at the centre of supplying inputs to the country’s agricultural sector which, apart from being the mainstay of our economy, is the principal source of food and livelihoods for the majority of Zimbabweans, principally those in rural areas already battling a crippling drought from El Niño.

Through this heinous Act, the United States of America has decided to worsen things for our people, indeed has decided to target for attack, the basic livelihoods of all Zimbabweans.

It is hard to grasp how a country that prides itself as a responsible player and leader in global affairs can target a key humanitarian sector for attack.

Much worse, it is as if the whole UN discourse on MDGs and SDGs mean nothing to the US whose foreign policy objectives can be allowed to create conditions for food insecurity in our countries. We remind the world community and all peoples of conscience and goodwill that American sanctions against our country are both illegal and unilateral, having been imposed without any justification whatsoever, indeed without any reference to the United Nations systems, processes or decisions.

Far from aiming for any hallowed goals, these spiteful sanctions were declared and imposed in support of a remnant white colonial landed gentry whose dominance in our national affairs the US wished to see perpetuated after our Independence, and forever. As far as the American Government is concerned, a mere 4 000 colonial white farmers are more important and deserving of US support than the 13 million landless black Zimbabweans whose heritage was stolen through colonial occupation, and who had gone without land since 1890.

The measures against the two fertiliser companies by the US Government are calculated to ensure that the countless beneficiaries of our national land reforms are unable to take full advantage of the land that has come their way to build sustainable livelihoods.

We reject such brazen racism, and denounce this anti-life stance by the US government.

Government is exploring strategies of challenging this sinister decision by the American government, while of course defending the gains of our land reform programme, which are now under renewed attack.

Hon. C.C Mushohwe (Dr) is Minister of information, Media and Broadcasting Services.