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*SADC Chair Calls For Removal Of Sanctions On Zimbabwe*

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Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chairperson of SADC has issued a statement calling for the lifting of all Sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. In a statement seen by Pindula News, Tshilombo said although the West claims that the sanctions are targeted, they have a spill-over and contagion effect on the rest of the country and also scare away potential foreign direct investors. Western countries imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe at the turn of the millennium citing gross human rights violations during the fast-track land reform programme. Tshilombo speaks on the Anti-Sanctions day commemorated annually on the 25th of October to pile up pressure on the United States to remove the restrictive measures on Zimbabwe. Read the statement:

*Statement by His Excellency Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chairperson of SADC, Calling for the Lifting of all Sanctions Imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe*

> 25 OCTOBER 2022

> 1. Once again, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) reaffirms its solidarity with the Government and People of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and reiterates the calls for the unconditional and immediate lifting of sanctions that were imposed on Zimbabwean individuals and institutions.

> 2. SADC is deeply concerned at the claim that the sanctions are of a “targeted nature” and are aimed at unilaterally punishing a few individuals. The reality is that there is a spill-over and contagion effect on the rest of the country, in particular by imposing a blanket negative perception about Zimbabwe across the world, in particular in the sensitive global financial markets.

> 3. This perception results in the country being unable to attract much-needed foreign direct investment, lines of credit, and other financial services that are essential to the socio-economic development of the country. This is more concerning given the need for rapid global recovery from at least two years of the socially and economically crippling COVID-19 pandemic which has now been compounded by a general rise in inflation across the world. Zimbabwe, like most developing countries is particularly vulnerable to these trends and the unilateral sanctions worsen the plight of her economy.

> 4. SADC is committed to the consolidation of democracy in Southern Africa, and indeed, elsewhere in the world. Zimbabwe is expected to hold regular national elections in mid-2023. In this context, SADC appeals to those who have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe to give space to the citizens of the country to exercise their democratic rights and not use sanctions as a covert mechanism to effect regime change.

> 5. SADC is also committed to the spirit of multilateralism, in this regard, notes that sanctions imposed against a fellow nation in the family of humanity must be made in accordance with international law. In this context SADC welcomes the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. Alena Douhan, on her visit to Zimbabwe (A/HRC/51/33/Add.2) which recommended lifting unilateral sanctions in line with the principles of international law.

> 6. SADC fully supports the conclusion of the Special Rapporteur that sanctions, including secondary sanctions, and different forms of over-compliance by foreign banks and companies have had a significant impact on the population and the Government, exacerbating pre-existing economic and humanitarian challenges.

> H.E Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairperson of SADC.

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