African Students under the aegis of the All-Africa Students Union (AASU) have called for an end to decades of sanctions against Zimbabwe, releasing their hashtag ahead of their “AntiSanctions Day against Zimbabwe” on October 25, 2023 in Harare.

While calling for a review of protracted economic blockage against the country, students at a world press conference in Abuja, Nigeria, released the hashtag #LiftZimbabweSanctionsNow for their advocacy.

The President of AASU, Osisiogu Osikenyi Enyinnaya, who addressed the media on Friday at the AASU international headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, highlighted the imperatives of their call for the lifting of the sanctions, calling attention to the dividends of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s four-key reform pillars.

The students said that their call has become imperative given that the protracted sanctions have adversely impacted “Our Generation of Zimbabweans”, the country’s thriving economy and indeed, the entire Southern Africa nation in the past 20 years.

The unlifted sanctions, AASU noted, “are slowing down progress, inhibiting Economic
recovery and punishing the most vulnerable people in Zimbabwe.”

Reiterating their commitment, the All-Africa Students’ Union expressed unreserved “solidarity with Zimbabwe and call for the lifting of the two-decade sanctions and other punitive measures imposed against Zimbabwe; as we prepare to observe AntiSanctions Day against Zimbabwe on the 25th October 2023 in Harare.”

They noted that “An attempt to perpetuate the already devastating sanction may be tantamount to “an attempt to kill a snake in a precious earthen pot; and
inadvertently breaking the precious pot to pieces”.

“Having paid keen attention to the 4-Key Reform Pillars for Zimbabwe’s Implementation Program which includes Governance Reforms, Land Tenure Reforms, Compensation of former Farm Owners and the Resolution of
Bilateral Investment Protection Agreements; we believe that the President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa led administration is sufficiently
committed to a sanction-free Zimbabwe.

“Evidences abound in history and contemporary case studies that have proven that Imposed sanctions often fail in achieving their intended goals;
often inadvertently proving to be counterproductive in advancing human rights, democracy, and press freedom; and having adverse Socio-economic and Political Effects of Sanctions on the Vulnerable Segments such as
Women, Children, and Minorities of Target Populations as may the case in the Republic of Zimbabwe.

“More so, these are no ordinary times in Africa especially as Zimbabwe’s neighbor – Mozambique battles cases of terrorist attacks and as Southern African countries take crucial and collective steps against the phenomena of terrorism and violent extremism via critical role of a functioning criminal justice system in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism; we must reconsider our stance on sanctions on Zimbabwe so as not to predispose the country as soft-spots for terrorist attacks cognizant that hqqqer military is unable legitimately acquire defense equipment.

“We cannot continue risking predisposing Zimbabwe considering her strategic positioning in the SADC economy and geography with
Mozambique to the East, Zambia to the North, Botswana and Namibia to the west, and South Africa to the South.

“Zimbabwe is fast emerging a self-sufficient Agricultural Powerhouse having
registered largest Wheat Harvest in 2022 with 375,000 tons, making the austral African country a self-sufficient agricultural powerhouse - A unique performance in Africa. Lifting the sanctions will not only boost Zimbabwe’s
capacity at Food Security but the entire SADC, Africa and the world”, the African students said.

Making their specific call for the lifting of the sanctions, the students said, “We therefore wish to appeal to The United States, the European Union (EU) and other International Systems to review these protracted sanctions
cognizant of quagmire Zimbabwe's economy has faced over the past years
with periods of hyperinflation rendering the local currency worthless; occasioning high levels of inflation as well as severe shortages of fuel, power and water.

“May I commend Africa and other Global Leaders such as South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa who have made frantic efforts in pursuit the US to lift sanctions against the Republic of Zimbabwe.

“This also goes to Officials of the United Nations, other International Diplomatic Systems and influential
Individuals who have lent their voices and actions to the #LiftZimbabweSanctionsNow Advocacy.

“Our Union shall in concert with Students and Youth Leadership structures in Zimbabwe and across Africa announce activities in observance of AntiSanctions Day against Zimbabwe October 2023”, AASU stated.