US Senator calls for the lifting of Zimbabwe sanctions

United States Senator Jim Inhofe has added his voice to the growing calls for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by his country and its Western allies, noting that the embargo is affecting the lives of the ordinary man and impeding economic development.

Inhofe, who is a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and has introduced a Bill that seeks to have the sanctions scrapped, highlighted that the embargo was "hurting and not helping the Zimbabwean people".

The US legislator's statement comes hot on the heels of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay's call for the lifting of the illegal sanctions.

It also comes at a time when Zimbabwe has taken the fight against the sanctions a notch up with the Attorney-General, Mr Johannes Tomana, filing a lawsuit against the European Union.

A statement posted on the US senate website last week reads: "US Sen JimInhofe (R-Oklahoma), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and leading advocate for the continent of Africa in the US Senate, today strongly supported recent comments made by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that economic sanctions against Zimbabwe be lifted.

"Since 2001, economic sanctions against Zimbabwe have resulted in the denial of extension of loans, credits, or guarantees to the Government of Zimbabwe from the United States or any international financial institution."

The statement quoted Inhofe as saying: "I fully support UN Commissioner Navi Phillay's (sic) belief that economic sanctions are only hurting - not helping - the Zimbabwean people.

"Over the last four years, Zimbabwe's power-sharing Government has improved the economy and the general well-being of its people.  

"This is evident by both the sharp decline of their inflation rate and the improvement of their gross domestic product (GDP).

"However, with the continuing inability to receive international loans or credits, Zimbabwe's economy is held back from achieving total fiscal prosperity."

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