President Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), this weekend called for the complete lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe.

“Today, our Regional Economic Community sends one message to the world: we seek the complete and unconditional lifting of sanctions on our sister nation, the Republic of Zimbabwe,” Ramaphosa said in a statement marking SADC Anti-Sanctions Day.

“SADC remains resolute in calling for the complete lifting of sanctions against the Republic of Zimbabwe and will pursue this cause with the utmost commitment, in the true spirit of regionalism and collective regional integration,” he said. He added that “sanctions against Zimbabwe are essentially sanctions against the entire SADC region”.

“We reiterate our wish for those countries that have imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe to give pride of place to dialogue in order to secure the lifting of these unwarranted sanctions. More importantly, they must do what is right for the 17 million people who make up the Zimbabwean nation.”