[ad_1]
Findings of a research on the impact of economic sanctions imposed by the United States on Zimbabwe in 2001 as a result of the country’s land reform programme are to be handed over to officials at the country’s embassy on the National Youth Day holiday.
The research conducted by the Zimbabwe Citizens Forum (ZCF) led by Cde Taurai Kandishaya focused on several economic areas which the sanctions targeted for strangulation to aid an unconstitutional takeover of power by the opposition.
Cde Kandishaya yesterday told The Herald that the country is still fighting an economic war which academics and researchers need to contribute to through more research insights and providing viable recommendations.
“On February 21, we are presenting our research findings to officials at the US embassy so they see how sanctions have had an impact on key economic sectors such as tourism, education, arts, health, sports and the general livelihood of Zimbabweans.
“A revisit of these sectors that have been strangulated and asphyxiated by sanctions is what we are calling the Emotional Tour. We have enough resources to lead these research initiatives so that we quantify how much the country has suffered. We want academics to come on board,” said Cde Kandishaya.
In May 2020, the opposition’s Mr Tendai Biti wrote a letter to the World Bank seeking to block a US$7 million special health fund to Zimbabwe meant to help the country fight the spread of Covid-19 and also for the Cyclone Idai recovery project.
Cde Kandishaya said sanctions actions by people like Mr Biti against Zimbabwe are representing the changing nature of warfare the West has on Zimbabwe as it is now focusing on damaging the economy.
“We are not looking at the liberation struggle where we used to visit Chimoio, Morogoro and Tembwe. The war continues today. We are in a war situation and the war that we are in has to do with the economy.
“As the ZCF, we therefore focus on the heroes that stand by the people and we have no recognition of those who forget to serve their own in search of pleasing foreigners,” he added.
[ad_2]
Source link