Zimbabwe Look East Policy Panacea to Sanctions

Outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Xin Shunkang and his wife Luo bid President Mugabe farewell at State House in Harare on May 9, 2012. The two countries have a long history of cooperation and solidarity., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Look East policy panacea to sanctions

Monday, 22 April 2013 00:00
Walter Nyamukondiwa recently in RAFFINGORA
Zimbabwe Herald

ZIMBABWE’S Look East policy is the panacea to the economic hardships caused by the illegal sanctions, Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo has said.

Speaking at a handover ceremony of clothes to orphans, widows and widowers by the National Chairman’s Charity Fund at Mafuta Farm in Raffingora at the weekend, Cde Moyo said there was constant collusion by the MDC with the West which has seen the leadership regularly flying to their capitals for consultation.

“We don’t want our country’s independence to be reversed using some of us who want to take back the country to the British.

“There are some of us (MDC) who are always out of the country. Today they are in London, tomorrow they are in Washington. Doing what?” he said.

He said the intended effect of the sanctions was scuttled by the assistance rendered by countries in the East such as China and Russia based on mutual respect for the country’s sovereignty and independence.

The chairman said unless the West removed the sanctions unconditionally, re-engagement efforts would be of little effect.

“We told them to go to hell with their sanctions. We have friends in the East. Now they are trying to come back. They realised that we are resolute. Unless you (West) remove all sanctions unconditionally, engagement is of little effect.

“If our President is under sanctions, we are all under sanctions. After all they are illegal so why care about your illegality, you can go to hell,” he said.

This comes in the wake of re-engagement efforts and overtures by the West in recent weeks.

He said the people should vote wisely to get rid of the inclusive government which he said had overstayed its welcome.

Cde Moyo said there was no going back on the revolution.

Turning to the forthcoming harmonised elections, he said some people were coming from the blue and wanting to take up positions in the party and in the political arena with no backround of selfless service to the country.

“Kune vaakuti they are not ready, vanga varipi? Koitawo vaakuti vanoda kuita maMP ivo vangavasipo kana one day.

Pakashandwa throughout the country. Wanga uripi,” he said to wild applause.

Zvimba North legislator Dr Ignatius Chombo urged people to register and vote in their numbers.

The handover was attended by thousands of people from surrounding areas, including legislators Cdes Walter Chidhakwa (Zvimba South), Bright Matonga (Mhondoro-Ngezi), Peter Haritatos (Muzvezve), Dr Joseph Made and Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Cde John Mafa.