WASHINGTON —
Zimbabweans have expressed mixed feelings over President Robert Mugabe’s speech Thursday at the 68th Session of the United Nations Generally Assembly in New York where he called for the removal of economic sanctions imposed on him and his inner circle by the United States and the European Union.
Some of them told VOA Studio 7 in a snap informal survery that the tone of the speech was too harsh for an administration seeking to re-engagewWestern nations.
Mr. Mugabe referred to the so-called targeted sanctions as “illegal and filthy” adding, “shame, shame, shame to the United States, Britain and their allies" for not removing the measures.
He said the sanctions were meant to effect regime change in what he called a “peaceful country".
However, political analyst Dumisani Nkomo said the sanctions are not a “violation of fundamental principles of the United Nations charter on state sovereignty and non-interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state,” as Mr. Mugabe claims.
President Mugabe and his delegation are on their way back to Harare following his speech at the UN General Assembly.
The United States, Britain and the EU imposed sanctions on President Mugabe, senior Zanu PF officials and companies linked to them following disputed elections a few years ago.
The EU removed some of the measures on most of the officials this year following the holding of a successful constitutional referendum. But Britain and the US insist that they will not remove the sanctions as the July elections which were won resoundingly by Zanu-PF were not free and fair.
Some of them told VOA Studio 7 in a snap informal survery that the tone of the speech was too harsh for an administration seeking to re-engagewWestern nations.
Mr. Mugabe referred to the so-called targeted sanctions as “illegal and filthy” adding, “shame, shame, shame to the United States, Britain and their allies" for not removing the measures.
He said the sanctions were meant to effect regime change in what he called a “peaceful country".
However, political analyst Dumisani Nkomo said the sanctions are not a “violation of fundamental principles of the United Nations charter on state sovereignty and non-interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state,” as Mr. Mugabe claims.
President Mugabe and his delegation are on their way back to Harare following his speech at the UN General Assembly.
The United States, Britain and the EU imposed sanctions on President Mugabe, senior Zanu PF officials and companies linked to them following disputed elections a few years ago.
The EU removed some of the measures on most of the officials this year following the holding of a successful constitutional referendum. But Britain and the US insist that they will not remove the sanctions as the July elections which were won resoundingly by Zanu-PF were not free and fair.