- Sadc supports Zim in fight against sanctions
- AU condemns the unilateral application of economic sanctions
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa took the fight against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States and the European Union to the African Union summit (AU) held in Ethiopia.
Mnangagwa has the backing of the Southern African Development Committee (Sadc) in his fight against sanctions imposed on the country by the US.
In its communiqué after the 33rd plenary session, the AU said they urged all States to refrain from imposing unilateral and coercive action that contravened the AU Charter governing peaceful relations between and among States at all levels.
“We strongly condemn the continued unilateral application and enforcement by economic pressure against any country, particularly AU member States, with a view to preventing these countries from exercising their right to self-determination,” read the statement.
“The AU strongly objects to the extraterritorial nature of these measures which, in addition, threaten the sovereignty of States and in this context calls upon all State actors to neither recognise these measures as appropriate to counteract the extraterritorial application nor effects of the unilateral coercive measures,” the AU added.
Mnangagwa, in a statement, also urged the US government to lift the long-standing socio-economic sanctions imposed on the country.
“We acknowledge the steps already taken by the European Union towards removing sanctions and we urge it (the US) to take requisite actions to ensure that the remaining sanctions are terminated,” he said.