President Obama Do The Right Thing: Lift Zimbabwe Sanctions Now

With this chairmanship, which complements his recent election to the Chairmanship of the 14 member Southern African Development Community (SADC), President Mugabe has emerged has one of the most powerful men in the world, representing Africa and its Diaspora — the Sixth Region.

Ironically, as most of the world applauds President Mugabe in his his new leadership roles, Western countries still make him, the government’s leaders and the people of Zimbabwe the targets of their “illegal” sanctions.

In his acceptance speech to the African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Mugabe referenced the price one pays in holding true to the principles of the African liberation movement, when he stated, “Given that the continent is rich in mineral resources, such resources should be seen to contribute more meaningfully to Africa’s development,” and he added, “Since the majority of our people depend on the land for sustenance and livelihood, we need to ensure they have access to the land, and that Africa’s vast agricultural potential is fully harnessed.

The Land Reform Program, that my Government embarked upon since the year 2000, was precisely meant to achieve this, notwithstanding the political demonization that my country has endured from those who had selfish and vested interests in our land. The positive impact the program is having on some sections of our farmers has vindicated us. Our production in the tobacco sector, for example, has by far surpassed levels attained by former white farmers.”

In seeking to effect regime change in Zimbabwe, to reverse the land reform program’s transfer of stolen land back to its indigenous owners, the United States Government passed legislation introduced by then Senators Jesse Helms and Hillary Clinton, called the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 (ZDERA). This legislation, passed to support private business interest in the U.S. and Britain which suffered monetary losses from Zimbabwe’s land reform program, is estimated to have cost the Zimbabwe economy $42 billion over the past 14 years.

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