The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
MORE than 2,5 million people have so far signed the sanctions petition launched by the Zimbabwe Unity and Sanctions Relief Initiative (Zusri) appealing to the United Kingdom, the United States of America as well as countries in the European Union to repeal the embargoes imposed on the country.
Zusri was launched last year in November being spearheaded by the Faith of the Nation Campaign led by Reverend Andrew Wutawunashe who partnered with National Elders Forum headed by Rev Felix Mukonowengwe. The project seeks to lobby and appeal to the Western countries to remove sanctions affecting the country.
In an interview, Zusri project manager Mr Donald Chirunga said people from the religious, business and academic communities were supporting their initiative as numbers of people signing the petition were increasing.
“We have received great support from the three pillars in favour of Zusri which are the religious, business and academic communities signing the petitions. Over 2,5 million people have signed the sanction petitions, including Zimbabweans across church denominations, academic institutions, business entities, also those in the diaspora and other countries have signed even the online petition on the website as well,” said Mr Chirunga.
He added that they are calling on as many people as possible to unite with those who have signed the petition to also come together and sign the petitions in a bid to appeal to the Western powers to remove the sanctions.
“We are calling upon more people to join the 2,5 million and sign the petition which we intend to take to the Western powers such as the US, UK and the European Union to say the nation’s poor have borne the yoke of sanctions for the best part of two decades.
“The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera) is an unjust heavy burden, yoke and instrument of impoverishment, oppression and suffering mainly upon the innocent poor people of Zimbabwe and must be repealed,” he said.
Mr Chirunga also noted that they have been going around educating people about the initiative and they also had other major plans for 2019.
“We are also on a massive drive education campaign in the churches, academic and business communities in the country. We will also be having our Regional Interface Conference for Zusri in Gweru end of February and we encourage all to partake.
“Moreover, for the first quarter January to March church leaders will be engaging Sadc regional leaders before they go to Europe and other Western countries that were part of the anti-sanctions launch the likes of Australia, New Zealand, among others. Before the year ends they will be also engaging the Americans,” noted Mr Chirunga.
The inaugural meeting of the Zimbabwe Unity and Sanctions Relief Initiative (Zusri) took place on 16 November, 2018 at the Harare International Conference Centre. It was attended by over 200 delegates who were invited to the meeting from various churches throughout the country.
Zusri runs under the theme, “Undo the heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free and break every yoke,” Isaiah 58 verse 6.
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