News / National
Tsvangirai wants sanctions on Zimbabwe to go
21 Jul 2011 at 05:36hrs | Views
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday said Government was committed to the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, PM Tsvangirai said the committee tasked with re-engaging the European Union and the United States would be guided by Government policy rather than political party views.
He was responding to a question from Mhondoro-Ngezi MP, Bright Matonga, who wanted to know Government policy on the issue of sanctions.
Matonga said Zimbabwe could not resuscitate the economy, as Government was not speaking with one voice on pertinent issues such as the removal of sanctions.
"I am sure this issue is very divisive and for a long time there was an attempt to try to politically divide, to apportion blame for sanctions or restrictive measures.
"You are aware that the GPA is handling this issue. You are aware that there is a committee tasked with engaging the EU and America and speaking from one voice.
"I can assure you there is no division, of course politically we may want to score points but I can assure you we want this issue of restrictive measures attended to and that is from a Government policy," PM Tsvangirai said.
The MDC-T has, however, not been consistent in the call for the removal of sanctions and Wikileaks revelations early this year showed that the party's secretary general Mr Tendai Biti was consulted on individuals and organisations to be included or removed from the sanctions list.
In the GPA the three parties agreed to call for the lifting of sanctions but the MDC formations are perceived to have done little to meet their bargain.
The two parties did not take part in the Zanu-PF anti-sanctions campaign launched early this year.
Over 2,2 million signatures were collected during the campaign and last week President Mugabe told the 85th session of the Central Committee that they should enlist support from progressive countries and organisations against the sanctions.
President Mugabe is also expected to take the sanctions issue to the Sadc summit pencilled for Angola next month.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, PM Tsvangirai said the committee tasked with re-engaging the European Union and the United States would be guided by Government policy rather than political party views.
He was responding to a question from Mhondoro-Ngezi MP, Bright Matonga, who wanted to know Government policy on the issue of sanctions.
Matonga said Zimbabwe could not resuscitate the economy, as Government was not speaking with one voice on pertinent issues such as the removal of sanctions.
"I am sure this issue is very divisive and for a long time there was an attempt to try to politically divide, to apportion blame for sanctions or restrictive measures.
"You are aware that the GPA is handling this issue. You are aware that there is a committee tasked with engaging the EU and America and speaking from one voice.
"I can assure you there is no division, of course politically we may want to score points but I can assure you we want this issue of restrictive measures attended to and that is from a Government policy," PM Tsvangirai said.
The MDC-T has, however, not been consistent in the call for the removal of sanctions and Wikileaks revelations early this year showed that the party's secretary general Mr Tendai Biti was consulted on individuals and organisations to be included or removed from the sanctions list.
In the GPA the three parties agreed to call for the lifting of sanctions but the MDC formations are perceived to have done little to meet their bargain.
The two parties did not take part in the Zanu-PF anti-sanctions campaign launched early this year.
Over 2,2 million signatures were collected during the campaign and last week President Mugabe told the 85th session of the Central Committee that they should enlist support from progressive countries and organisations against the sanctions.
President Mugabe is also expected to take the sanctions issue to the Sadc summit pencilled for Angola next month.
Source - TH
