Tsvangirai calls for removal of sanctions
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday called for the wholesome removal of the illegal economic and other forms of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries for the inclusive Government to deliver.
He said this in the House of Assembly during the Prime Minister's question and answer session.
The European Union last month removed 51 people including politicians and journalists, and 20 companies from the sanctions list while Australia indicated it would remove 82 individuals from the sanctions.
Mwenezi East legislator Kudakwashe Bhasikiti asked PM Tsvangirai if he had lobbied for the removal of sanctions when he met British Prime Minister David Cameron in the United Kingdom last week.
Bhasikiti also wanted to know if Government had any plans to lobby for the removal of sanctions imposed on diamond mining companies.
"I think Honourable Bhasikiti we should now call him Honourable Sanctions because he is always asking me about sanctions," PM Tsvangirai said.
"On policy, as Government we don't believe removing certain members from the sanctions and leaving others was proper. It's unfortunate that they removed some members of Cabinet and left others, we believe they should have considered removing them all.
"Yes I met Cameron last week specifically on issues to do with this (sanctions) because I can't call for the removal of sanctions on certain individuals and entities and leaving others. If we are talking of removing any restrictions all of them should be removed and we will not select."
PM Tsvangirai said Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi as chairman of the re-engagement committee was seized with the matter.
The EU imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe after Britain had refused to honour its colonial obligations to pay compensation to white farmers whose farms were compulsorily acquired for redistribution to the landless majority.
Over 2,2 million Zimbabweans countrywide signed the National Anti-Sanctions Petition launched by President Mugabe last year.
Sadc, Comesa, the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and other progressive people and organisations the world over have denounced the illegal sanctions, which precipitated the economic meltdown of the past decade.
On the looming starvation, PM Tsvangirai said Government will import more grain to avert imminent hunger as most parts of the country had been affected by drought.
PM Tsvangirai said Government was targeting grain imports exceeding the strategic reserve of 500 000 tonnes.
He also said non-governmental organisations that give food to communities should be allowed access to the people.
The Premier also said there was no Government policy to ban NGOs in some areas.
Turning to Zesa debts, the Prime Minister said Government has directed service providers like Zesa and Zinwa to accept payment plans from farmers who were waiting for their payments.
He said it was improper for service providers to disconnect farmers when they were waiting for their payments.
PM Tsvangirai urged ministers and MPs who owe service providers to take the lead in paying their bills.
He said the inter-parastatal debt had risen to over US$600 million making it difficult for other parastatals to operate.
"There is no discrimination in the payment of bills. Every service provided should be paid for. You can't expect Zesa to generate electricity when you are not paying.
"Senior Government officials should actually be at the forefront of paying these service providers so that they keep operating. If we don't pay for services, we will wake up one day without electricity," PM Tsvangirai said.
