11 February 2010
Last week on the programme Hot Seat Violet Gonda asked a number of Zimbabweans for their views on the controversial issue of sanctions and whether it’s time the measures were removed. ZANU PF has warned there will be no more GPA concessions until the sanctions imposed by Western countries are removed. Parliament has seen heated discussions on this topic with ZANU PF insisting that the MDC should demand the removal of the restrictive measures. Click here to find out what those interviewed had to say: http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/hotseat080210.htm
And below is some of the feedback received from listeners and readers:
I refer to Violet Gonda's interviews on sanctions:
It is obvious that there would be no unanimity on this issue considering the fact that Zanu-PF has not given-up on brainwashing up people through the ZBC and the Herald/Sunday Mail.
Furthermore, what else would beneficiaries of the Mugabe’s racist land grab circus say other than just throw a tantrum and hot air about the sanctions?
Amid reports that Mugabe spent about US1.5 million on his recent trip to Italy and paid some CIO chaps about $5000(five thousand dollars) per day each when back home a school teacher gets only USS120 per month.
All the sanctions must stay until full reform is evident to all at home and abroad in the form of human rights, the rule of law, freedom of the press, respect for property rights, genuine trials of those who murdered innocent people in the name of Zanu-PF, full compensation of victims of Zanu-PF instigated murders and violence.
The institutions which were slapped with sanctions had a case to answer. There should be no confusion about that. You only need to analyse the role of Mugabe’s cronies at the goings on at Chiadzwa in order to understand the absence of transparency in the mining and sale of Zimbabwe ’s diamonds.
Why should the institutions be cleared of wrongdoing with news that a private airport is being constructed at the Chiadzwa diamond mine, police has raided and taken away 20 kgs of diamonds from RBZ to an unknown destination etc?
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Job hello?!? Why can’t God give us normal people. Job in the bible was a wealthy and righteous man . The Zim Job sucks. "My name is JOB SIKHALA : I’m leading a formation of the MDC that has dumped Arthur Mutambara after realising that he has been supporting Zanu PF through and through." Your point Job?
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My name is Dr. Paul Muchena and I work for Pioneer Overseas Corporation which is an American company. I am a Zimbabwean based in Kenya . I am not on the OFAC SDN list but when I sent US$ 2,500.00 on 26th November, 2009 from my Barclays account in Kenya to my Standard Chartered account in Zimbabwe the money only appeared in my account in Zimbabwe on 19 January, 2010 . I had no money for Christmas and I had to borrow money for my daughter to return to school because Barclays was holding on to my money because of the so called targeted sanctions. When I was desperately trying to follow up for my money I was told a lot of innocent people were being affected by these targeted sanctions if you have a similar surname to someone who is on the OFAC SDN list. I was told some people in the end never receive the money. In my case it took almost two months for me to receive the money after lots of correspondences with Barclays. I have no doubt if I had not fought for my money, I would have lost the money. It should take about two days at most to verify whether someone is on the OFAC SDN list. The reason for sending this message is to highlight that the so called targeted sanctions are affecting innocent Zimbabweans because of poor implementation of the targeted sanctions.
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I followed this debate and i must say i appreciated your proficiency in journalism. This issue of sanctions has been most abused by Zanu PF and this sort of debate has allowed people to express the views that are not presented in the media in Zimbabwe .
Let me declare my interests before making this suggestion. You know that a lot of Zimbabwean entrepreneurs have lost their assets and businesses largely through political victimisation and also through abuse of office by some people appointed into influential offices. A rational mind says that these entrepreneurs should not reinvest in Zimbabwe because they cannot repeat the same mistake and risk their assets again – however, Zimbabwe needs them because every country needs a local breed of entrepreneurs as anchors in the development process. I would like to know what the Zimbabwean public / analysts think should be done to address this issue.
On a personal note – my efforts to engage my entrepreneurial skills in Zimbabwe will largely depend on how these issues are resolved because i cant risk my future businesses in an environment where i have lost so much. I would have Zimbabwe as my country of birth and not necessarily the place i will do business because of past experience. Sad as it may sound but that is reality for a number of Zimbabweans that could really assist in pulling out Zimbabwe from the current mess.
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I see there are a lot of opinions around this issue but the bottom line is- Sanctions are real and they are hurting everyone. Those who say they should stay are the same people who are better off anyway and can afford to drive across the borders to buy some food. They should stop talking on behalf of the suffering masses. Just look at the profile of those who are responding to this debate, they earn decent incomes be they salaries or consultancy fees and they are the same people who want sanctions to stay when in fact they only spend part of the year in Zimbabwe while the rest of the year is spent gallivanting across the continent doing consultancy work. I am deeply disappointed by such sentiments from people whose life is not impacted by sanctions in any way. Sarah
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I thank you greatly for availing this discussion to Zimbabweans. My question to all Zimbabweans is that have they not seen that those targeted have become filthy richer and more evil? As much as I wish somebody got punished for murders and property looting, the punishment is not being met through sanctions, sadly. Evil has continued at an accelerated rate, corruption has become more rampant and the targeted are reported to be owners of multiple farms, companies and have since built some 50+rommed homes. I say, Zimbabweans must loot the targeted companies and vent their anger on the individuals who put us where we are now, than expect some foreigner to do it for them. Imagine if Gono’s farm were visited by hungry Zimbabweans! To deny Mugabe to travel freely and shop at Harrods is no punishment for the death of the Tonderayi 5 or Chiminya or the torture that Jestina Mukoko suffered at the hands of evil. Let us mobilize and confront evil ourselves as Zimbabweans, than expect Brown to do it for us. So, please remove sanctions immediately, whatever they are, maybe poor Zimbabweans might get the remnants of leftover food from rich tables. Doug
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Thanks Violet for an innovative way of tackling a question that has left the MDC running all over the place in its disjointed response to a simple and straight forward question. Keep up the good work. Tabani
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We can see who is who, like Manhanga who, as we know, has already thrown his lot in with Satan. Ignorant fool...there are sanctions against entities in Pakistan Afghanistan etc etc. He has no interest in justice or accountability but in personal aggrandisement.
Sanctions are hurting Zanu PF; they wouldn't bleat about them so much if they weren't! But more importantly, sanctions are against those who are accused of gross human rights violations and should stay until the individuals have been cleared of all charges by an independent court in a democratic and free Zimbabwe . Chete! Sanctions are not a bargaining chip to be tossed aside when it is expedient to do so. Mike
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Well, well, well, 99.9% of the interviewees here share the same sentiments as mine, I am so glad. Actually, Mugabe and his regime, vana Chiwenga, Sekeramayi, Mnangagwa and the lot, MUST lift the sanctions they imposed on us Zimbabweans before they can worry about visiting the Harrods and the like. We are not suffering because of the travel ban imposed on them because of their evil doing, but because of their stupid legislation crafted by the cocoa nut head, spin doctor Jonathan Moyo and brainless people like Bright which should actually be (Dull) Matonga and George Charamba nana Mahoso. The security forces are running this country and they claim that sanctions are causing suffering to the Zimbabwean people, yet its Mugabe and his zealot. I hope that the EU will consider our (Zimbabweans) sentiments on the issue of lifting targeted sanctions on ZANU (PF) lot. I support the notion that Mugabe must not set his foot in any of the western countries until he dies because he has no business in the "Imperialists" countries like he calls them. Bona must do all her education in her father's friends' countries "the east" its good for her. There must not be any London University , Harvard University , UoA, etc., for her because I am sure Grace is really dying to send her daughter to one of the western countries universities. Our children can't get even decent primary education here because of Robert Gabriel and Grace Mugabe nemaZANU (PF) avo. Please Violet, you people out there please send the message to EU, Britain and all the other countries that might be considering relaxing the travel conditions for Mugabe and his ZANU (PF) officials not to even dare waste their time on these people because they are not worth even a pinch of salt. They have to reform chaizvo zvatinobvumawo tose kuti vapfidza matadzo avo then may be, may be we might consider lobbying for them to be pardoned. Vanhu ava ndavanaSATAN Violet they don't deserve anyone's pity!! Sekai
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All this talk about “sanctions” is a propaganda victory for the “ruling party” and the government they still control. There are no sanctions in the sense that we had United Nations trade sanctions against this country (still called “ Rhodesia ” at the time) cutting the country off from all trade, export and import . By using the word “sanctions” the state media make all the world believe that we suffer from the same massive outside interference. That is not true. By promoting this discussion about “sanctions” they make all the world believe that sanctions, or their removal, are key to the economic recovery. That is not true either. This discussion diverts attention from the fact that we still have no rule of law, no media freedom, no respect for human rights, no security of property and no environment in which the economy can be rebuilt. Here just one example concerning the rule of law: Mr Kunonga, the ex-communicated former Anglican bishop of Harare used by the ruling party as their home-grown “bishop”, and the police are banning the rightful Anglican Church under Bishop Chad Gandiya from church premises, against a ruling of the High Court which has given a temporary order for the Kunonga faction and the Anglican Church proper to share the premises. This is unlawful action by the forces of “law and order”. This is just one example among many. Zimbabwe can only rejoin the community of nations when it abides by universally accepted standards. This is what we ought to talk about and publicize worldwide, not “sanctions” which are not the cause of our misery. Fr Oskar Wermter SJ. Jesuit Communications.
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Violet the issue of sanctions on Zimbabwe is not a negotiable issue if i may prefer to call then restrictive measures yes restrictive measures. These restrictive measures should stay and i was of the opinion that if i was possible to have a referendum on the subject would be a very noble idea. But i personally feel the restrictive measures must remain in tact, then maybe economic sanctions maybe removed affecting the general population. I am surprised Tsvangirai is asking for the lifting of sanctions when he really know he is dealing with hardliners who will never repent right now Mugabe has ordered all ministers not to report to the Prime minister already violating the GPA, this is a good indication how canning ZANU PF can be.
The next thing after removing these restrictive measures we won't be surprised to wake up in the next morning and here the Herald saying GPA is a none entity says ZANU PF after consulting its highest decision making body despite the guarantors etc. etc. And you know how difficulty it is going to have those sanctions in place again that is another 30 yrs or so . ANONYMUS
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In my view, I believe the issue of sanctions/restrictive measures is not an issue which can be resolved over-night. There are certain steps which we need to follow before those who put the sanctions in place agree to remove them. However, there are issues in the GPA which we can deal with on our own and have control over. I see no reason why we can not agree and finalize them. Once we deal with issues within our control, I am quite certain that the issue of sanctions will fall away. In my own observation, the living standard of ordinary people in the country has improved during the time of GNU as compared to the period before despite that sanctions are still in place. Our lives are affected more by the actions of our political leaders than the imposition of sanctions/restrictive measures by a third party. Erasmus
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First of all; many thanks to you all at SWRadio for all your hard and great work. Keep it up. Our prayers and support are with you as always. ZANU PF dislike SW intensely because somehow you have always been able to communicate the truth into our nation that has been sorely deprived of free media. In their dreams that you will go off the air!!! I am emailing to comment on your interviews regarding the so called sanctions. I, like most Zimbabweans, have pondered over this matter at length and would like to make the following points;
1) The targeted sanctions/restrictions are totally deserved by those under them for gross human rights abuses. Their hands drip with blood and the destruction and plunder of this nation rests on their shoulders. The restrictions, truly speaking, should have been much wider and deeper. The West should have implemented these measures a long, long time ago. ZANU PF have absolutely no right to demand their removal. We still live under the same controlling, dictatorial abuses that have been going on for 10 years.
2) Secondly-the funds that are tied up in western and other nations. Where do they come from and how were they gained??? Big question! If justice were to be truly done those funds should be used to compensate Zimbabweans for destroyed and stolen homes/property/livelihoods/state funds and much more.
3) Thirdly. For the good of the nation. Maybe they could be lifted in exchange for some compensation that will eventually free this nation of an evil regime. For example:- the security chiefs should step down/retire and be given some sort of immunity in exchange for a lifting of their targeted restrictions and for telling the truth and confessing in a truth commission.
In the end I am thinking of the people of Zimbabwe who have suffered untold atrocities and loss. "Vengegence is Mine, saith the Lord." Nanette
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My name is Peter and l was an MDC youth treasurer for mash west and l am in the Diaspora after l fled the country for my dear life since the so called top six sponsored by Bro Saint Phidza were passionately looking to devour me with the full support of the CIO . Wright the issue of sanction is a no issue because in the first place these are self imposed, if you remember Sir Robert Mugabe said, ‘I don’t need any help from the west and Zimbabwe can do without the west’ after that they announced that Zim was out of the Common Wealth. It’s not MDC who brought these sanctions it’s actually Zanu Pf asked for the sanctions hence they need to face there music. We need more of targeted sanctions and wish they could be restricted to the extent of not even going out of the country. These terrorists are really enemies of the people. Please MDC don’t lose your focus, sanctions are not your business and you have nothing to lose because the people have already seen that you can do this thing. Come elections Zanu will have only votes from Chinotimba and Chinamasa because even Mugabe will vote MDC . I agree very much with the prodigal son Job Nkala (stop tribalism and come back home you don’t belong where you are man, come back to winning team Mdc T) he said that Mugabe imposed sanction on Zimbabwe, that’s very true.
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Violet all these comments are from MDC sympathizers. The sanctions must go like yesterday. There is nothing to debate about. If they were meant to target individual, then I might say it has missed the target because Zimbabweans are suffering big time. The monster must go now. Zimbabwe is on an irreversible path and those who think thinks may turn around and the so called pig skinned people might come back is day dreaming. I am sorry to say pig skinned because to me they are not white.
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I am a seventy year old citizen of Britain and a committed Christian. I have visited Zimbabwe and have supported its citizens both directly and indirectly for some years.
As far as I am concerned Robert Mugabe and his gang of profiteers will never, ever be welcome in my home, my country or my continent - so the travel ban is fine.
If Mugabe and company are honest men (and women), they will not have any overseas bank accounts or assets gained by their crooked dealings, so sanctions cannot possibly be effective against them. It would be a better idea if they simply publicly signed instructions to their overseas bankers to forward any balances held on their behalf or on the behalf of any company in which they have an interest to the Minister of Finance's offices in Harare.
Only when they do this simple thing will I, and probably the rest of the world, accept that they are even slightly honest or patriotic.
If they cannot do it, let them go rot.
My prayers for the suffering and oppressed people of Zimbabwe continue. Peter.
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While I do not believe that there are sanctions and am of the view that they are restrictive measures applied to the protect Zimbabwe from its own rulers. Blah, Blah, Blah. There are a hundred versions and they all carry some weight.
However the way I see it.
What of the Sanctions against MDC on the airwaves?
What of the sanctions on the MDC in the papers?
What of the sanctions on MDC in the police force?
Etc, Etc, etc.
I mean what is wrong with everyone. They just sit back and allow the one sided story to be told!
Come on. If you do not confront the lies then they will be told so often with such passion that people begin to believe it.
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They speak with one voice - except the Bishop who imitates the voice of his master RGM exactly. I'm glad Ms Sisulu puts right the erroneous belief that the IMF issue is another area of sanctions. Too many people have forgotten what all that was about.
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My take is that ZANU has no right to tell us that they will keep burning their family house until the sanctions are lifted. What is difficult for Zanu to stop oppressing us first then see what whoever imposed sanctions do in response. What ZANU seems to say is they want the sanctions to go just so they can cling to power.
These sanctions have actually made it slightly possible for Zanu to relent in their mission to rule at all cost. So sanctions should remain until ZANU allows us the freedom we need. We still have torture camps ready for election time so ZANU should actually be banned even from SADC and AU.
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The restrictive measures ("sanctions") must stay and should only be lifted after the country has successfully held free and fair elections under a new people driven constitution and under international supervision and when power has been transferred to the winner, which obviously would be anyone other than Robert Mugabe.
Mugabe and his bootlickers have killed over 20000 Zimbabweans between 1980 and today. The latest recorded such murder was of an MDC activist, Peter Magombedza, at Tsungai in Nembudzia, Gokwe on 25th December, 2009 i.e. less than 2 months ago.
Mugabe lost presidential elections in March, 2008 and ZANU PF lost its parliamentary majority in parliamentary elections of the same period. Mugabe would not hand over power. Instead he doctored the results and caused a re-run of the presidential election of June 2008 in which he became the sole candidate after the withdrawal of Morgan Tsvangirai. Between March 2008 and June 2008 he deployed the army in the countryside to set up structures from which they terrorised the people into voting for him. Gruesome murders were committed. To this date, those structures are in place, ready to be set in motion again whenever Mugabe deems it expedient. In the past 2 weeks some villagers in Manicaland were forced to flee their homes after coming under attack from ZANU PF militia and being forced into attending overnight vigils where they would be "lectured" into supporting the Kariba Draft during the constitutional outreach process. We are made to understand there are now some Rwandese refugees who have been enlisted by ZANU PF and are part of the militia causing the terror in the countryside. Now this adds a very frightening dimension considering these Rwandese participated in a genocide in their own country before fleeing to Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai and Mutambara are indeed part of a GNU but it is a sad fact that they have no power at all, not in the least over the army nor the militia. Therefore, fact is nothing has changed at all on the ground. The nominal improvement in the economy is nothing to write home about. The real issue is human rights violations and these are continuing unabated. Ask WOZA, ZINASU, ZCTU, NCA, HRW, ROHR, NGO's and most church organisations and they will confirm this position.
Worse things are going to happen when the next round of elections is necessitated by whatever circumstances. Mugabe will never give up power. He knows the heinous crimes against humanity he committed warrant prosecution and the only way he can be insulated against prosecution is not only to be in Government, but to be the custodian of power in Government: Panyika
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My name is George Ncube and I do not buy this sickening sanction propaganda by Zanu PF. People of Zimbabwe are not suffering because of sanctions or whatever these are called. Western nations do not represent the world and if they do not trade with us it does not necessary mean that we should suffer. We are now allowing Zanu PF to bully the International Community as it did with us, the SADC and AU. Who is going to benefit from the lifting of these measures? We surely know that its Zanu PF thugs and their beneficiaries. Zimbabwe is suffering because Mugabe decided to completely destroy the Agriculture sector which was well developed and completely strategic for our economy. Even if we are allowed to borrow, we will be borrowing for the purposes of trying to enrich those who benefited from destruction of our economy. I know that the Ian Smith government had really sanctions from all over the world not from just few western countries; but was able to hand over to Mugabe a vibrant economy which the dictator started wasting by engaging in endless wars including the war against agricultural producers. If Mugabe had not destroyed agriculture, no amount drought would affect Zimbabwe because the irrigation system was well developed and fully functional until they uprooted all the pipings and are still keeping these pipes at their houses. So whatever measures are in place these must remain until Zanu PF behaves. Lets not reward these small concession by Zanu PF, we need full reform. We must not be apologetic to Mugabe; if they want the current state to remain then let the election be the answer.
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well my name is Tongai Mandude and i am a renowned academician .The issue of sanctions or restrictive measures is a non event and it can only be used by Zanu pf apologist as an excuse for every thing which was done by Zanu .This in cludesruption, abductions, cholera, shortages of cash and the allocation of resources to the few including farms, tractors and other farming implements. There is no need for debate because the ZANU PF reserve bank governor was printing paper using bond paper and that money was not accessible to us the working class but to only the top ZANU PF thugs who could go to the reserve bank either to have their applications approved to hood cash. Were these really sanctions or they were move made in order to punish the majority of the Zimbabweans.
These same people were restricted from travelling the USA and to the EU because they will be spending money which they acquired through corrupt activities such as the diamond mining activities in Marange. Targeted sanctions should only be remove is there is fully implementation of the GPA .Moreso sanctions are not the reason why the economy collapsed but it was because of corruption. Why are these people interested in going to the USA and EU, they should spend their stolen money hear, they should invest here in agriculture for example and develop this economy. Let me hasten to say you have never seen either Blair or Bush in Zimbabwe but why are these individuals crying to go where they are not wanted.
The Zimbabwe economy has improved without the removal of these so called sanctions and will continue to do so since they are people who are now in government and are people centred in terms of their policies. ZANU PF should shut up and see how things will be given time with those travel restrictions being there. This is the reason why they send their kinds to HONG KONG while the UZ has no water and the halls of residences are closed since 2006.Are these sanctions or no one in ZANU PF cares especially Nyagura. We hold qualifications from these institutions but they are no longer as valuable because of the so called restrictive measures. Companies which are linked to ZANU should not be allowed to trade and this does not affect the people of Zimbabwe at all.
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