In a Press Statement recently, Government summoned United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols to express its displeasure concerning the imposition of illegal sanctions on Ambassador-designate to Tanzania retired lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe together with his wife, Ms Chido Machona.
Sanyatwe is the former Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army’s Presidential Guard Brigade and currently the Ambassador Designate of Zimbabwe to Tanzania.
The United States of America imposed sanctions on Ambassador Sanyatwe accusing him of human rights violation during the violence that erupted after the Opposition coordinated demonstrations just after the July 2018 harmonised elections, which President Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu-PF won.
The polls were conducted and MDC-Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa would not accept the defeat hence they instigated violence on the streets together with their supporters, resulting in retaliation by state through soldiers that applied live ammunition to citizens ending in the deaths of six people while others were injured.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador James Manzou met with Ambassador Nichols at his Munhumutapa offices where he expressed Government’s displeasure over the imposition of sanctions on Sanyatwe.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson, Mr Shepherd Gwenzi confirmed the developments in a statement.
The statement read; “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on 2 August 2019 summoned the Ambassador of the United States of America to Zimbabwe His Excellency Mr Brian Nichols. He met the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador James Manzou.
The purpose of the summons was to express the displeasure of the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe over the public designation of His Excellency Lieutenant-General (Rtd) Anselem Sanyatwe, current ambassador designate to the United Republic of Tanzania and former Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army’s Presidential Guard Brigade by the US Secretary of State, Mr Michal Pompeo under Section 7031 (c ) of the FY 2019 Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriation Act (Div FPL 116-61) allegedly for gross violations of human rights related to the August 1 2018 post-election incident.”
The decision by Washington is regrettable as it comes at a time that Government is intensifying the implementation of political and economic reforms including the Motlanthe Commission’s report recommendations. This runs counter to the spirit and substance of re-engagement. These sovereign processes must be allowed to conclude.
That notwithstanding, the Government of Zimbabwe will continue with its reform agenda and its efforts on engagement and reengagement in pursuit of the national vision of making Zimbabwe an Upper Middle Income country by 2030.”
However, in what seems to contribute to the continual debate between who the sanctions affect where a school of thought has clearly stated that these sanctions by the US affect ordinary citizens than those they target, the US Embassy has maintained that these sanctions are different and they do not affect citizens.
ZEDERA however, has left the biggest mark in the socio-economic development of the country making trade difficult between Zimbabwe and the West, as well as access to borrowing by the government of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe citizens have expressed frustration over continued sanctions calling for the closure of the the Embassy in Zimbabwe.
Tapiwa Mseuli through is twitter account said; “The US Embassy Harare cannot just put sanctions whenever they think they woke up on the wrong side of the bed. These sanctions hurt us the ordinary citizens and are not the solution to every problem here… ngaivharwe embassy iyoyo vakutofunga ndoovane yese (the embassy should be closed).”
“You painfully killed our mother, aunts, sisters, hope you find God before your own death because it is all our way, death we are one people entitled to show discontent without being killed by our own instrument, God have mercy,” tweeted Tapiwa Mutemi.
Tafadzwa Chihuri said that American Army Generals have killed many civilians and destroyed other nations but nobody places them under sanctions, therefore why should it place Sanyatwe on sanctions.
However, other citizens are of the opinion that the government of Zimbabwe must do their part in ensuring that they respect the rule of law, they account for the citizens who were killed in both the August 2018 incident and January 2019, and that they should not ask for the removal of sanctions before they account for these heinous crimes against humanity, as well as enforce a free space for citizens participation in public life such as elections.
Baron McDonald said that ‘Kudos to the US Embassy Harare they have gone further by placing Sanyatwe on sanctions more should also follow suit’. A number of citizens on twitter celebrated the placing of Sanyatwe on the sanctions as they wished that he be answerable for the killing of the innocent citizens on August 1 2018.
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