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The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has urged its 16 member states to stand with Zimbabwe and join the call for the unconditional lifting of sanctions, in the spirit of solidarity that has defined the region for more than 45 years.
SADC Executive Secretary, Elias Magosi, reaffirmed the regional bloc’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and reiterated its longstanding demand for the immediate removal of sanctions.
In a statement marking Anti-Sanctions Day for Zimbabwe, held annually on October 25, Magosi appealed to those that have imposed the sanctions to reconsider their stance and engage in constructive dialogue within the framework of modern multilateralism.
He noted that Zimbabwe, “a nation of enormous potential,” has demonstrated remarkable resilience over time, adding that the lifting of sanctions would unlock the country’s full potential and enable it to contribute meaningfully to the prosperity of both the SADC region and the African continent.
“Together, let us advance inclusive development where no country is left behind as we pursue a shared future marked by peace, stability, and prosperity of our people,” Magosi stated.
He described October 25 as one of the most significant days for SADC, as the region joins the government and citizens of Zimbabwe in commemorating Anti-Sanctions Day.
Magosi recalled that the day was established by the 39th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in August 2019, to collectively call for the unconditional lifting of the prolonged sanctions imposed on one of the organisation’s founding member states.
“Sanctions on Zimbabwe have evolved in form and target over the years, yet their effect has frequently destabilised Zimbabwe, and the SADC region at large,” he noted.
He emphasised that the prosperity and livelihood of any civilisation should not be held ransom by external forces, as has been the case with Zimbabwe.
Magosi said the harsh economic and social realities resulting from the sanctions symbolise multiple violations of Zimbabwe’s human and people’s rights.
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“Such impositions run counter to our collective aspirations for global interdependence and the attainment of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 – the Africa we want, which envisions a peaceful, integrated, and prosperous Africa,” he said.
He further stated that the economic sanctions continued to undermine SADC’s regional economic integration efforts by restricting Zimbabwe’s full participation in trade, investment, and shared economic growth.
“It is therefore most befitting that this year’s commemoration of the Anti-Sanctions Day is held under the theme ‘Inclusive Development through Heritage-based Innovation and Industrialisation in a Multilateral World’,” Magosi added.
He explained that the theme reflected the regional bloc’s shared pursuit of inclusive growth, resilience, and sustainable development as both Zimbabwe and the global community navigate evolving challenges together.
“On this Anti-Sanctions Day, we reaffirm SADC’s solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and reiterate our enduring call for the immediate lifting of these sanctions,” Magosi restated.
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