JOHANNESBURG– Members of parliaments in the southern Africa region have called for an end to sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“The sanctions are affecting the general people in Zimbabwe and the region,” said the Southern Caucus of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) Chairperson Pemmy Majodina on Tuesday at a meeting in Johannesburg.
The EU, the U.K. and the U.S. imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, accusing Harare of gross violations of human rights.
Majodina, who is also the Chief Whip of the African National Congress at the South African Parliament, said the Southern Caucus of the PAP resolved to table a motion to debate and take a resolution that will bolster efforts to end the Zimbabwean sanctions.
Amos Masondo, chairperson of South Africa’s National Council of Provinces, said the Zimbabwe problems should be resolved by themselves.
“The notion of sanctions is misplaced, it has impacted negatively on the people, especially the poorest of the poor. We call on these sanctions to be immediately lifted.” Mathole Motshekga, a legal expert and a South African Member of Parliament, also expressed concerns over the sanctions.
“We think this is a gross violation of the international law and the rights of people in Zimbabwe, and we think that this matter should be debated by the Pan-African Parliament, and it must be escalated to the African Union and the United Nations.” – Xinhua