Children of Zimbabwean War Vets demonstrate against US sanction

SCORES of people claiming to be children of war veterans staged a demonstration at the US embassy in Harare Friday calling for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Friday's protest was the third time in less than a month the Patriotic Forum for Zimbabwe Children of National Liberation War Veterans Association (PF-ZCNLWV) have demonstrated at the embassy.



The group vowed not to back down until the sanctions, blamed by the government for the country's economic problems, are removed.

In an interview, the organisation's secretary general, Knowledge Kadzura, said they were sending a clear message to the American administration that the sanctions must go.

"Basically this demonstration is part of the programme that we have engaged on to see sanctions removed on Zimbabwe. We are sending the message clear to America that we are tired of the sanctions. We are tired of their hypocrisy," Kadzura said.

Kadzura said Zimbabweans should be left to determine their own future without outside interference.

"We will go on as long as the sanctions stay," he said.

"We want sanctions to be removed just as I am here I am getting over from all places from the country of people who want to join this particular demonstration and register their displeasure about sanctions on Zimbabwe.

He added: "These sanctions are a death grip on us."

The US imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe some ten years ago over allegations of human rights abuses and election fraud.

President Robert Mugabe denies the allegations, insisting the sanctions were part of western conspiracy to topple his Zanu PF party from power for embarking on the land reform programme.

The US administration has refused entreaties by Harare to lift the sanctions after the July 31 elections after backing opposition claims that the vote was fraudulent.

Kadzura said his organisation had written to the US ambassador registering their displeasure over the issue.

"He has responded to us, his response failed at all levels to answer the questions and issues we raised in our letter," said Kadzura.

"To him the only thing he alluded to is the $135 million that America is giving to Zimbabwe as humanitarian aid, but basically we are saying we have lost an access of $100 million because of these sanctions so he should not just throw figures at us," Kadzura said.