Staff Reporter
Just In… ZANU PF youth league is demanding evidence from the United States government to prove that the four Zimbabwean nationals and two companies recently added to the sanctions list are corrupt and involved in human rights abuses.
Youth league Secretary for Legal Affairs, Phineas Makombe told journalists at a Press conference in Gweru that the American government’s continuation to impose sanctions on “innocent” citizens without producing evidence is meant to weaken the people’s party and cripple the Zimbabwean economy.
“We are a party that abides by the rule of law, the first port of call is to ask the Americans to produce evidence where they are getting the allegations from,” said Makombe.
In a statement, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said it added four Zimbabwean nationals and two companies to the sanctions list. One of the individuals is Emmerson Mnangagwa Jnr, son of the President.
The youth league went on to accuse the opposition party of having a hand in the latest imposition of sanctions on Zimbabweans.
“Here in Zimbabwe we have the opposition led by Biti and Chamisa and their lackeys playing the devil’s advocates. Chamisa in WikiLeaks even encouraged a military attack on this land. This is why the PVO bill is fought, the opposition and these NGO’s are the hands through which the Americans perpetuate their diabolical designs on our sovereign soil.
“Any citizen who excels in a country where all must be wallowing in misery awaiting the return of the white man to save us from sanctions must be vilified. With no evidence, private citizens are now being punished for succeeding in their own land. The Americans want success to have one colour. Because of this historical racism, citizens such as Kudakwashe Tagwirei and lately Emmerson Mnangagwa Jnr, Obey Chimuka, Sandra Mpunga and Nqobile Magwizi are punished for being citizens doing their best to take their country forward. Madam Sandra Mpunga is being punished for being married to Kudakwashe Tagwirei,” said Makombe.
“I hereby as the Secretary for Legal Affairs in Zanu PF youth league ask the ambassador of the United States, Hopewell Chi’ono, Tendai Laxon Biti and Nelson Chamisa this; where is the evidence against which you viciously attack these citizens of our country?
The same ink you used to print the latest sanctioned list, please include the reasons thereof from the same inkpot. A day is coming when illegality shall be rendered obsolete regardless of who perpetrates it. A day is coming when military and economic might shall not work in suppressing citizens of another sovereign country,” he added.
Recently, James O’Brien, the U.S. State Department’s sanctions coordinator, said U.S. sanctions are not hurting Zimbabwe’s economy, as they do not affect banks.
A much bigger problem, he said, is the tax revenue lost from billions of dollars in black market, cross-border transactions that take place each year.
Piers Pigou, a senior consultant for Southern African human rights watchdog, International Crisis Group, said: “There is no doubt that the sanctions have an impact on aspects of the economy. In some instances directly as it relates to individual entities and individuals that are on the list. What is difficult is to calculate the extent of that impact. Particularly in a context where there are multiple other factors relating to delinquencies and governance.” #The Sun
