Last Wednesday, the government a range of activities across the country in commemoration of the SADC Anti-sanctions Day.
In addition to the Harare march, the government organized rallies and public gatherings across the country throughout the day. These events featured speeches by government officials, civil society leaders, and representatives from various sectors of society, highlighting the adverse effects of sanctions on Zimbabwe’s economy, development, and citizens’ livelihoods.
Overall, the activities were aimed at drawing global attention and support for the removal of economic sanctions.
The anticipated anti-sanctions day has, even more, this year unfortunately failed to push the needle, rallying international support and calling for the lifting of economic sanctions on the country.
Despite the government’s concerted efforts to mobilize a large turnout, it seems a number of citizens are growing tired of the narrative and the government did not receive much love from the streets of social media.
The netizens questioned government’s motives and the credibility of its message.
Zimbabwe has faced criticism for its human rights record and lack of transparency, which erodes trust and makes it more difficult to garner support.
One cannot deny the importance of addressing the impact of sanctions on the nation’s economy and the livelihoods of its citizens.
Zimbabwe has long struggled with a range of challenges, including political instability, corruption, and economic decline.
While it is crucial to find solutions to these issues, it is equally essential to acknowledge the complexities at play and recognize that a 24 hour range of activities and fun for those in power may not be the most effective means of achieving meaningful change.
The international community, even within SADC itself, remains divided on Zimbabwe given its failure to deliver a free and transparent election which is one of the prerequisites for international re-engagement.
With such divergent opinions, it becomes increasingly challenging to rally global support and one cannot be surprised that not a lot of countries paid attention on the day.
Even the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European Union, who are the primary target of the Anti-sanction day did not even flinch or release statements on the day. That is telling!
Diplomatic efforts, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and addressing the underlying concerns raised by those imposing sanctions are essential steps towards achieving a resolution, its not much.
Actually, the asks are what a normal government that cares about its people should be implementing on a daily basis.
It is great that the Vice President has been tracking how much money Zimbabwe lost due to sanctions, more than US$ 150 billion. Maybe the same must be done to compare how much has been lost through corruption, externalisation of funds and private mega deals.
Moving forward, it is crucial for Zimbabwe to adopt a more nuanced and multifaceted approach in addressing the issues it faces.
This includes prioritizing efforts to enhance governance, respect human rights, and promote transparency, which may better position the country to engage constructively with the international community.
By recognizing the limitations of a singular demonstration and focusing on comprehensive measures, Zimbabwe can better position itself to address the issues of sanctions and chart a path towards sustainable development and prosperity.
