Targeted Zimbabwe sanctions and trade links between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and South Africa to be revisited
QUOTE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 2358 (NW2850E)
PUBLISHED INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 30-2013 OF 13 SEPTEMBER 2013
Mr L S Ngonyama (Cope) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:
Whether it has been found that (a) the targeted Zimbabwe sanctions should be maintained and (b) trade links between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and South Africa, in particular, should be revisited; if not, how was this conclusion reached, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NW2850E
REPLY:
(a) Southern African Development Community (SADC) and South Africa have consistently maintained that targeted sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe were not assisting to resolve the political impasse, experienced by Zimbabwe since the signing and implementation of the Global Political Agreements resulting in the August 31 harmonised elections. South Africa maintains its long standing view that sanctions should be lifted to allow the country to re-engage with the broader community of nations in the interest of improving the economic and social development outlook for Zimbabwe and the region.
(b) Revisiting the trade links between South Africa and the SADC region is not on the SADC agenda. The future of our country is inextricably linked to that of the region. Therefore, economic development, industrialisation and diversification of the region as well as socio-political developments and stability are critical for each member state of SADC. Enhanced regional economic integration remains critical for the attainment of South Africa’s political and economic developmental agenda aimed at eradicating the three ‘evils’ of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment.
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