Zimpapers Logo

President Wa Mutharika said this in his address during the opening session of the 65th UN General Assembly here yesterday.
The AU chair spoke soon after UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon opened the session, which is being attended by more than 100 world leaders, including President Mugabe.
President Wa Mutharika said: “The sanctions against some members of the African Union and Non-Aligned Movement have posed great economic hardships, especially against the poor.
“The African Union feels the ideological justification (for the sanctions), if ever there was any, has outlived its time.
“Sanctions are also inconsistent with the emerging dialogue for the reform of the United Nations.
“Sanctions are also inconsistent with the obligations of the United Nations to promote social progress and economic development of people as promulgated in the preamble to the charter of the UN. The African Union, therefore, appeals for the immediate lifting of sanctions against the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Cuba.
“We believe that the lifting of the sanctions will enable ordinary Zimbabweans and Cubans to begin a life of new hope and new progress.”
The West, at Britain’s instigation, imposed economic sanctions on Zimbabwe following Harare’s bold move to embark on the revolutionary FastTrack Land Reform Programme in 2000.
The AU has on several occasions slammed the illegal embargo.
Comesa, Sadc, NAM, the Pan-African Parliament and progressive people the world over have all condemned the sanctions and called for their immediate removal.
China, Russia, South Africa, Vietnam and other countries in 2008 blocked an attempt by Britain and the United States to legitimise their sanctions through the UN Security Council.
The sanctions bar Zimbabwe from accessing lines of credit from all multilateral lending institutions with dealings with US, restrict trade in many goods and services and even discourage tourists from visiting the country.
In his address yesterday, President Wa Mutharika reiterated the AU’s position on the need for comprehensive reform of UN systems, in particular the Security Council.
The AU wants a permanent seat for Africa on the council. Presently, the permanent members are Russia, China, France, Britain and the United States, who all hold veto power.
There are also 10 nonpermanent members who do not have veto power and sit on the council for two-year periods.