Lift “all sanctions on Zimbabwe”, Christian Leaders Say, Urge “citizen-centered process”

They added, “We also understand that you and your team will collect information and hold a series of meetings with Government authorities, civil society organizations, private sector and opposition political parties.”

The Christian leaders provide the background of the sanctions imposed on the country close to two decades ago saying, “The USA enforced sanctions on Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) of 2001, Executive Orders (EOs) that are implemented through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) since 2003 and exclusion of Zimbabwe from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of 2000.”

“The European Union (EU) sanctions on Zimbabwe, officially referred to as restrictive measures, were imposed in 2002 by Common Position 2002/145/CFSP,” ZHOCD members add.

The two sets of sanctions were imposed, the faith-based leaders tell Ms. Douhan, “against the background of Zimbabwe’s economic mismanagement, undemocratic practices, human rights violations and political repression.”

According to the Christian leaders, the imposed sanctions “have not achieved their intended purpose … are devoid of a broader national settlement framework, and remain elitist and exclude the participation of citizens.”

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“Any assessment of effects of these sanctions will show that they have not produced the intended results. Rather these sanctions have been used by some to justify government’s failure to provide services and national development,” ZHOCD members say in their statement dated October 22.

The sanctions, the Christian leaders further say, have “created Zimbabwe as a negative investment environment in a way negatively affecting ordinary citizens and not those targeted.”

They decry the fact that “those who have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe have closed any meaningful communication doors with the government of Zimbabwe so that they have not been able to influence other aspects of democratic development.”

The Southern African nation “is confronted by many complex and interrelated issues that cannot be addressed in isolation to each other,” the Christian leaders note, making reference to their National Settlement proposal.

In this proposal, ZHOCD members say they have suggested that the humanitarian challenges the country is facing, which have been made worse by COVID-19, be addressed; that the 2013 constitution is implemented “by making sure the laws are properly aligned and key institutions are reformed.”

They have also suggested “rebooting the fragile economy which has struggled due to lack of international investments but also affected by corruption.”

“Healing and reconciliation of the hurts of the past that continue to pose threats for national unity” need to be addressed as well as “international isolation characterized by the sanctions”, the Christian leaders say, and add, “As ZHOCD, we believe, the sanctions discussion should not be dealt with outside the broader national challenges.”

They bemoan the fact that discussions around sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe have “excluded the participation of citizens” and acknowledge with appreciation the decision by the UN Special Rapporteur “to engage citizens” in her “fact-finding mission”.

“Real participation happens when an International Re-Engagement Forum on Zimbabwe is established in which different citizens’ groups are involved,” the Christian leaders observe, and add, “Current reengagement dialogues tend to be secretive and are not accessible to the public. This does not allow full citizen participation.”

“We hope that this consultation you have started will also enable citizens’ voices to be heard and taken seriously,” ZHOCD members say in their note to UN Special Rapporteur, Ms. Douhan.

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Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.