The Council of Churches in Africa (CCA) has joined everyone in denouncing illegal sanctions which have been imposed against Zimbabwe on Tuesday the day called Anti-Sanctions Day to campaign against the sanctions.
The illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe which the West claims has been targeted on few individuals and institutions have the majority of the citizens bearing the brunt.
“The church is feeling the impact of rising inflation and incomes have been eroded with prices skyrocketing daily. The economy is in tatters as a result of illegal sanctions which have been imposed against Zimbabwe by our detractors. The situation has reached another level and ordinary congregants are not free to operate in a country with an economy which is in intensive care unit”, CCA said in a press statement.
“Today marks a historic call from the ecumenical umbrella body representing indigenous churches in Africa, as we join everyone in denouncing illegal sanctions which have been imposed against Zimbabwe”, said CCA.
Indeed, this is a complementary crusade for a common good of ordinary congregants. We thus congregate today with the main objective to show solidarity with members of the society who are wailing in abject poverty caused by illegal sanctions”, CCA added.
“Transacting in potential income-generating projects and major investment has been hampered by these restrictions since it require foreign currency (US$). There is no easy of doing business since churches are facing the same problems that thegeneral populace is experiencing. That has become a challenge for the church, which rarely receives foreign currency”, CCA complained.
Likewise, Africa and many other countries in the region have joined Zimbabwe in the call for the removal of the sanctions which have choked the country for more than two decades thereby retards development and crippling church-related businesses.
The sanctions makes it more difficult for Western companies and investors to deal with Zimbabwe and making it almost impossible for Zimbabwe to access most of the normal global financial institutions set up to facilitate trade and mobilise capital for development.
Since assuming power, the Second Republic has taken pragmatic steps to re-engage with the world, including hostile western nations. The re-engagement efforts find expression in the united call by SADC member states to speak unanimously against the sanctions annually on October 25.
Basically, the current administration has implemented political and economic reforms that have been accompanied by unprecedented infrastructural development not withstanding the continued existence of the illegal sanctions.
The European Union introduced sanctions commonly referred to as the Common Foreign Security Policy Frame work (CFSP) imposed in February 2002 while the United States enacted the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera), which restricts support to Zimbabwe’s economy.
“Today, the CCA, its partners, helpers and stakeholders condemn the illegal sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe with loudest voices”, said CCA.
The Council for Churches in Africa is a non-profit faith-based ecumenical umbrella body for indigenous churches in Africa with the aim to promote love, peace and justice amongst churches through genuine dialogue and engagement in an effort to avoid church splits in the region.
CCA is also the Voice of the African indigenous churches and a voluntary arm for African Union with the objective of giving spiritual guidance
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