Sanctions on Zimbabwe affect Zambia's growth

Zambian Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has appealed to Britain to remove economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe as they were negatively affecting his country's growth ambitions.

Mr Chikwanda said this when he met British Secretary of State for International Development Justine Greening during bilateral discussions focused on expanding existing relations between Zambia and Britain in Lusaka yesterday.

"We are appealing to Britain to help some of our neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe," he said.

"Our economies in this region are inter-linked, when there is a problem there, it spills over to us."

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Chris Mutsvangwa hailed Mr Chikwanda's statement, saying it was in line with the Southern Africa Development Community's stance.

"We welcome the Zambian position of coming out in the public lobbying for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe," he said.

"That is in line with the stance taken by Sadc. It is clear that the prosperity of a neighbour has a bearing on one's personal development. Most of our trade with Zambia is affected if sanctions continue and the best way is to have them lifted."

Deputy Minister Mutsvangwa said it was time Britain removed the illegal sanctions because it had failed to achieve its goal.

"Although the sanctions have caused suffering on the people, regime change has not been achieved in Zimbabwe," he said.

"I think it is high time London behaves in a more civilised manner by removing the sanctions."

Britain pledged unwavering support to Zambia's development agenda during Mr Chikwanda's meeting with Ms Greening.

Ms Greening said Britain remained committed to helping Zambia yield results from its development strategy through various reforms. Ms Greening was in Zambia to, among other things, deliver a keynote address during the Regional Symposium on Ending Child Marriages held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.