US Responds To SADC’s Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Day

United States of America has highlighted that sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe will remain until the government undertakes democratic reforms and stop abusing its citizens.

US Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Senator James Risch emphasised that Zimbabwean government must stop violation of human rights.

“SADC’s Zimbabwe anti-sanctions day was a day of solidarity for Zimbabwe’s most corrupt human rights abusers. Despite their self-serving efforts, sanctions remain. A change will occur when the govt’s embarks on genuine democratic reforms and stops abusing its citizens,” he said.

This year’s anti-sanctions march was commemorated at the USA Embassy Zimbabwe under the theme “Enhancing Zimbabwe’s Resilience through Economic Development and Engagement and Re-engagement.”

SADC declared 25, October as the day of solidarity against sanctions on Zimbabwe.

According to the Human Rights Watch World report 2022, the administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa failed to take meaningful steps to uphold human rights and ensure justice for serious abuses primarily committed by security force in 2021.

There has been no accountability for abuses by security forces, including the August 2018 post-election violence and killings and rape during the January 2019 protests. Abductions, torture, arbitrary arrests and other abuses against oppositions politicians and activists have not been meaningfully investigated.

In June 2022 Citizens Coalition for Change members of Parliament Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole were arrested on charges of inciting public violence after the death of slain Moreblessing Ali by alleged Zanu PF member Pius Jamba.

The two were denied bail several times and they are still in custody, and their lawyers and party members have suggested that the duo’s arrest and bail denial is politically motivated.

The United States, United Kingdom, and European Unions all renewed targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe for serious human rights abuses by security forces, corruption , and failure to ensure justice for past abuses.