Addressing the persistent challenge of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, Bikita South MP Energy Mutodi, a member of ZANU PF, has tabled a motion in Parliament. This motion aims to dispatch a delegation of parliamentarians to the United States to urge Congress to lift sanctions that have been enforced for more than two decades.

Originally imposed under the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) in 2001, these sanctions were justified by concerns over human rights abuses and electoral irregularities during the tenure of the late former President Robert Mugabe. The catalyst for these measures was the contentious land redistribution program, which was marred by violence targeting white landowners.

Mutodi’s proposition entails assembling a high-level delegation from Zimbabwe’s Parliament to advocate for the repeal of ZIDERA. He underscored the urgency of taking prompt action to alleviate the hardships endured by ordinary Zimbabweans affected by the sanctions.

In support of his motion, Mutodi delineated several key objectives for the delegation, including drafting a briefing document for presentation to the US President and Congress, engaging with American lawmakers to lift the sanctions, and garnering international support at the United Nations to comprehensively address the issue.