Hosia Mviringi
ZANU PF has heaped praises on Zimbabwean religious leaders who stood side by side with the country’s leadership in calling for the removal of unilateral economic sanctions imposed by the West.
Speaking yesterday at the reintroduced ZANU PF weekly press briefing, the Party’s Acting Spokesperson Mike Bimha said that it was because of relentless efforts by the Church in Zimbabwe that the Archbishop of Canterbury joined the chorus and escalated the call for unconditional scraping of illegal sanctions imposed against the country.
“The party would like to applaud the leaders of religion who rallied behind the nation in calling for the removal of sanctions. The Church courted the Archbishop of Canterbury in calling for the removal of illegal sanctions,” said Cde Bimha.
When President Mnangagwa visited the UK for COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, a delegation of religious leaders, led by Reverend Andrew Wutaunashe, under the banner of Zimbabwe Churches’ Sanctions Relief Initiative (ZICSRI) organised a meeting with the global leader of the Anglican Church, otherwise known as the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Portal Welby.
The clerics discussed and lobbied for support of the most senior leader of the Church of England in calling for the lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
As a result of the effort by the Church in Zimbabwe, it is expected that the influential global leader of the Anglican Church will escalate the call for the lifting of sanctions to the Queen of England and the Prime Minister of Great Britain.
The delegation of religious leaders and elders included Father Fidelis Mukonori, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi, Bishop Felix Mukonowengwe, Rev. Farai Katsande, Bishop Trevor Manhanga, Ms Elizabeth Karonga and Bishop Peter Zvanaka Mukwena.
President Mnangagwa also engaged the Secretary of State for the Vatican City, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who also echoed the anti-sanctions sentiments.
This is in support of the government’s call for engagement and re-engagement which is expected to pay dividends as the country is set to benefit from renewed international solidarity, recognition and acceptance, on its own a tonic for improved trade, investment relations and global reintegration.
Sanctions have been the worst scourge ever to manifest on this plateau between the mighty rivers, after the liberation struggle.
Zimbabwe’s calls for the lifting of sanctions was boosted by the recent report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur to Zimbabwe who visited the country between October 18-28 to assess the impact of the unilateral coercive measure on the enjoyment of human rights.
The preliminary report by Ms Alena Douhan buttressed the government position that the sanctions are illegal as they did not get the necessary UN approval.
It recommended their immediate removal as they were an impediment to the free enjoyment of basic human rights by the people of Zimbabwe.
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