African Union calls for removal of Zimbabwe Sanctions

The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission Kwesi Quartey has called for the immediate removal of EU and US sanctions against Zimbabwe. 

Speaking to delegates at the ongoing African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, Mr Quartey said the removal of sanctions would pave the way for women and young people to more effectively engage in the country’s development, and allow for greater evidenced-based policy making. 

“For us to build the conducive conditions to achieve these lofty ambitions, the AU has called for all the sanctions on this country [Zimbabwe] to be lifted immediately”, he said. 

The Deputy Chair went on to implore African nations to support one another in ending conflict on the continent. 

“The vicious cycle of violent conflicts, emerging disruptive crisis and localised but globalised terror acts persist on the continent; and many situations of relapses with some countries that have once emerged from conflicts," he said.

"It is therefore on this note I would like to appeal to all of us here for a mobilised effort to collaboratively support to end the scourge of war and conflicts on the African continent," he added.

In recent years the European Union did remove the late former President Robert Mugabe from its list of sanctioned individuals, but his widow Grace Mugabe is still blacklisted.

Other Zimabwean politicians who are restricted in their dealings with the EU include Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri and commander of the defence forces Gen Philip Valerio Sibanda. 

Photo: AFP