For the second year, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) ambassadors community of Beijing, along with members of the Zimbabwean diaspora, gathered at the Zimbabwean Embassy in Beijing on October 25 in solidarity against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States.
In 2019, the 39th Summit of the Heads of States and Governments of SADC held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, declared October 25 as the date on which SADC members collectively voice their disapproval of sanctions against the country.
Mozambican Ambassador to China Maria Gustava, whose country is the current SADC Chair, said in a statement that for two decades the unilateral sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are undermining the country and highlighted that they are illegal and affecting the economy of Zimbabwe.
"SADC member states, once again, condemn unreservedly the economic sanctions imposed against the people of Zimbabwe as they constitute unilateral cohesive measures that violate Article 41 of the UN Charter," said Gustava.
SADC in solidarity with Zimbabwe
In a statement SADC ambassadors based in China called on China to continue to reiterate the position of the SADC Heads of State for the immediate and unconditional removal of the illegal sanctions against the country.
"Those that have imposed sanctions should remove them now unconditionally. A few changes have taken place but they are not enough," said Zimbabwe's Deputy Ambassador to China, Spencer Dube.
Speaking at the same occasion, Namibian Ambassador to China, Dr Elia George Kaiyamo, said, "October 25 is a commitment by the SADC heads of state in supporting Zimbabwe so the day will continue to be remembered and we continue to [issue tour] demand until the sanctions are removed."
African commitment
The collective statement made at the Zimbabwean Embassy said that not only the SADC region, but indeed the entire continent of Africa, has long suffered under sanctions imposed by the West. Responding to a question on whether the unified call by the SADC community on the removal of sanctions was a waste of time, Tanzanian Ambassador to China Mbelwa Kairuki said, "I remember even when the frontline states were part of liberation they [the West] were saying fighting for democracy was a waste of time but today we are here."
Echoing similar sentiments, Zambian Ambassador to China Winnie Chibesakunda said that whatever happens to one country in the SADC region affects everyone in the region. She said the voices of those in the West who say the call for removal of santions is a waste of time is the kind of discouragement that is well known in Africa and is like history repeating itself. "We will not abandon our fight for lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe," said Ambassador Chibesakunda.
China and UN support
Ambassador Gustava thanked the Chinese Government for their support on behalf of the SADC ambassadors in China. "We take this opportunity to thank our host, the Chinese Government for supporting this just cause by its unequivocal statements that it has issued on the matter."
Deputy Ambassador Dube said that the impact of China's support means its voice is listened to by more people. "So we are happy in that regard that China continues to support us. We will continue gathering every October 25 until these sanctions are removed."
In her closing remarks Ambassador Gustava highlighted that the imposing of sanctions on Zimbabwe has been further exacerbated by the severe economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has further limited the Zimbabwean governments'ability to effectively fund public services and maintain welfare programs.
She however acknowledged the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for calling for the lifting of sanctions on all countries including Zimbabwe in March this year, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Also present to mark this year's meeting of solidarity at Zimbabwe's Embassy in Beijing were Malawi’s Ambassador to China Charles Namondwe in his capacity of incoming SADC Chair and Mauritian Ambassador to China Alain Wong Yen Choeng.
