Diplomats amplify call to remove Zim sanctions

In 2019, SADC set aside October 25 as Anti-Sanctions Day, a move meant to ramp up pressure on the West to drop sanctions imposed on more than 100 Zimbabweans with links to the ruling ZANU-PF. The southern African country was placed under economic sanctions by the European Union and the United States in 2002 over concerns of poor human rights record.

However, SADC has been pushing for the scrapping of the sanctions, arguing they hurt ordinary Zimbabweans and hold back the country’s economy. Speaking at the Anti-Sanctions event, Zimbabwe deputy ambassador to Botswana, Margaret Ruparanganda said sanctions have harmed the resource-rich country.