Zimbabwe has just cause to sue EU says Tomana

THE decision to sue the European Union (EU) was a just cause as the illegal imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe crippled the economy, reduced the country's revenue inflows, led to a decline in the industrial and mining sectors and plunged the nation into untold poverty, the Attorney-General (AG) Johannes Tomana has said.

In an interview, AG Tomana said the imposition of the illegal sanctions had denied Zimbabwe its inalienable right to economic freedom and sought to influence the way it conducts its internal affairs.

"We are not even supposed to be under the EU sanctions at all. Zimbabwe is a sovereign State and that sovereignty means we have inalienable rights to do what we want with our economy. It is our right to redistribute our land; it is our right to indigenise the economy. The EU has no right to tell us how to conduct our affairs. Zimbabwe is not a member of the EU. Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans and we have a right to choose our destiny,'' he said.

AG Tomana said the lawsuit against the EU was meant to send the message that Zimbabwe "will not be bullied'' and that the imposition of sanctions was destroying the lives of Zimbabweans.

He said: "The sanctions are not only suppressing Government business and the economy but they are denying unfortunate Zimbabweans the right to jobs and education. They are denying Zimbabweans the right to food. They are denying Zimbabweans the right to exploit their resources. We are not enjoying the benefits of our assets. The land and the riches in it are for Zimbabweans not the EU and the sanctions have denied Zimbabwe their fair value over the past decade.

"We also want the EU to know that we will not be bullied. We are not going back on our decision to achieve economic emancipation. It is our right and it is not their right to curtail our economic activities."

AG Tomana revealed that the EU was yet to file opposing papers to the lawsuit that Zimbabwe tabled in May at the European Court of Justice.

"We are waiting for the EU to respond to our lawsuit. Since we filed it there have not been any developments on the case. Zimbabwe respectfully submits that the European Court of Justice should not simply take our word and impose a penalty on the EU before it has had its day in court. I am sure that the EU is preparing its opposing papers, we will wait to be summoned," AG Tomana said.

The European Court of Justice is the highest court in the EU on matters of EU law. As a part of the Court of Justice of the EU institution it is tasked with interpreting EU law and ensuring its equal application across all EU member States.

Law experts internationally and locally believe Zimbabwe has a case to make at the European Court of Justice as the sanctions are in violation of the Cotonou Agreement, which governs relations between the EU and African countries.

Zimbabwe wants the EU to be on trial for the unilateral imposition of economic sanctions and travel bans against Zimbabweans without the backing of the United Nations, the only authority in the world that has the mandate to try nations.

One of the causes of Zimbabwe's economic woes was the imposition of illegal sanctions that saw the economy imploding. This resulted in a critical shortage of foreign currency as the country was unable to obtain finance or credit facilities from international lenders to inject into the economy. In addition, Zimbabwe's ability to reschedule its loan payments and to apply for debt cancellations in times of financial crisis was severely affected.

The foreign currency crisis resulted in the devaluation of the domestic currency and rapid inflation that led to acute shortages of basic foods and fuel in the country.

More economic sanctions saw inflation assuming hyper mode with the last recorded figure standing at 231 million percent. Fortunately, hyperinflation was stopped in its tracks in 2009 when the Government shut down the local currency printing press and allowed foreign exchange to legally circulate.