Zim Govt steps up anti-sanctions drive

The state media reports that the Zimbabwe government has stepped up its anti-sanctions drive.

According to 'The Herald' more than 2,2 million signatures gathered during the National Petition Campaign had been converted into electronic form.

The signatures will be presented to the United Nations and the re-engagement talks in Brussels.

The sanctions that were imposed by the US and the EU violated international law as they were effected outside the purview of the United Nations, and in the case of the EU embargo, in violation of the Cotonou Agreement that governs relations between African Carribean and Pacific countries.

Government officials are visiting the country's 10 provinces to scan and crop out the information on the forms.

The cropped versions will then be put on a master page that will carry the name, identity number, signature and the district where the particular person signed the petition.
The next stage will see officials compiling the information, 72 people per page, into volumes and portable document file format.

The volumes will carry at least 500 pages with signatures on both sides of the pages.

Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu yesterday said the campaign had brought a strong case for Zimbabwe to challenge the embargo.

"The process has brought into sharper focus the anti-sanctions campaign in Zimbabwe and has generated greater cohesion in the fight against this external threat.

"In that way the campaign has given a firm platform from which people can tackle Europe and America over the sanctions."

He said the over 2 million signatures confirmed that the sanctions are affecting the ordinary people.

"We have a real base for Government to take a definite position against the sanctions."

Minister Shamu said the success of the anti-sanctions campaign had also laid a strong base for individuals to take legal action against the West.
Attorney-General Mr Johannes Tomana is currently building the Government's case against the EU over sanctions.

Private citizens who have also taken legal action against the US and Europe over sanctions include Senator Guy Georgias and some journalists.

"To us, the stage has now been set for a multi-pronged attack on sanctions under the leadership of Vice President John Nkomo."

Minister Shamu said the formation of the electronic version of the petition will also build a basis for Government's case during the re-engagement programme with Europe.

He expressed gratitude towards Zimbabweans who heeded President Mugabe's call to sign the petition.

"The process is still ongoing and people interested in signing the petitions can approach the various Government offices in their areas."

Government has so far processed more than 774 000 petitions. Harare Province contributed 382 137 signatures, Mashonaland East 184 968 while 207 094 petition forms were signed in Mashonaland Central.

"Indications show that we could surpass the 2,2 million signatures we had targeted and they could go beyond four million signatures," Minister Shamu said.

The programme, which moves to Mutare this week, before spreading to other provinces, is expected to end on March 20.