President Mnangagwa will lead this year’s Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Anti-Sanctions Day on Saturday, October 25, delivering a national address highlighting Zimbabwe’s resilience and progress despite Western sanctions. Zimbabwe was placed under illegal and unilateral sanctions in the 2000s by the United States of America (US) and its Western allies, led by Britain, after undertaking the land reform exercise to redistribute land to the previously marginalised majority black people in the country.
The event themed “Inclusive Development through Heritage-Based Innovation and Industrialization in a Multilateral World,” aims to call for the removal of sanctions and celebrate Zimbabwe’s achievements under the President’s leadership.
Various activities will take place nationwide and internationally, including solidarity events, a documentary on the SME sector, and educational forums for youth. The day, established in 2019 by SADC, demonstrates regional unity against illegal sanctions imposed by the US, EU, and allies, which are viewed as unjust and harmful to Zimbabwe and regional cooperation. The sanctions have stifled growth in the country and have hurt the ordinary populace.
The commemorations also emphasize Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts in governance, economic reforms, and promoting innovation through its Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model.
The clarion call for their removal by the region and world at large is a testament to their confidence in the leadership led by President Mnangagwa. Zimbabwe has turned the corner in terms of development but bottle necks remain in place because of the illegal sanctions. Their removal is long overdue. It is now or never as Zimbabwe yearns for a leap to an upper-middle-income society by the year 2030 (Vision 2030).
