The motion was approved and goes to the House of Lords on 7 May.
Alan Duncan Minister for Europe and Americas pointed out that the sanctions on Zimbabwe were not just on individuals but also covered an arms embargo and financial restrictions.
“The Zimbabwe sanctions regulations aim to encourage the Government of Zimbabwe to respect democratic principles, the rule of law and human rights, and to deter the repression of civil society,” he said.
“The regulations impose an arms embargo and other financial, immigration and trade restrictions, including on the trade in goods and technology that may be used for internal repression.”
Zimbabweans are currently campaigning against the sanctions because they hurt ordinary Zimbabweans and not the listed politicians as claimed by the European Union and the United States.
This is the major reason that informed how I reached my Damascus moment regarding the issue of sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Opposition leader Obert Gutu today “unashamedly and passionately” called for the lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe saying he was totally wrong to support them in the first place.
In an article in the Herald Gutu wrote: “Here and now, I will fully admit that at one time I was thoroughly misguided in actively supporting and actually calling for the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe.
“At that juncture, I rather stupidly and naively believed that the imposition of sanctions would naturally lead to the full and total democratisation of Zimbabwe. I was wrong; totally wrong.
“The reality is that sanctions actually cause more harm, political suffering and socio-economic agony to the majority of innocent Zimbabweans, most of whom are not even political activists.
“Sanctions don’t hurt the ruling elite inasmuch as they hurt the ordinary man and woman in the street and in the village or township.
“After undertaking a thorough and deep study and introspection on the effects of sanctions on the generality of the people of Zimbabwe, I then reached my Damascus moment and began to appreciate how evil, toxic and retrogressive sanctions are against the welfare of the majority of my Zimbabwean compatriots.
“Thus, I’m unashamedly and passionately calling for the lifting of all forms of sanctions that were imposed against Zimbabwe by the major Western powers such as the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.”
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