- Title: Zimbabwe's president says Western sanctions 'must go'
- Date: 25th October 2019
- Summary: HARARE, ZIMBABWE (OCTOBER 25, 2019) (REUTERS) STADIUM STALLS WITH BANNER READING (English): "SANCTIONS ARE DESTROYING OUR FUTURE" PEOPLE SITTING IN STADIUM STALLS WOMEN DANCING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING IN NEARLY EMPTY STALLS ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT, EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, DANCING ON STAGE
- Embargoed: 8th November 2019 17:05
- Keywords: Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa Zanu PF Harare
- Location: HARARE, ZIMABWE
- City: HARARE, ZIMABWE
- Country: Zimbabwe
- Topics: Government/Politics,International Trade
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2LJRRB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday (October 25) described Western sanctions as illegal and called for them to be removed. His supporters denounced the measures during marches held around the country.
In Harare, many stayed away from the demonstrations, saying they were a distraction from the president's mishandling of the economy, which is plagued by 18-hour daily power cuts and shortages of foreign exchange, fuel and medicines.
Mnangagwa has so far failed to unify the country since taking over from the late Robert Mugabe, who was ousted in a coup in 2017. Hopes of a swift recovery have faded as the economy struggles to exit its deepest crisis in a decade.
Mnangagwa, like Mugabe, blames the sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union since 2001 for the economic ills and says they are intended to remove his party from power.
The poor attendance showed the difficulties that Mnangagwa faces in mobilising party members still divided between Mugabe's supporters and those who ousted him. The rift was exposed by a bruising dispute over the former leader's funeral.
The EU and United States imposed financial and travel bans on ZANU-PF and top military figures for alleged human rights abuses and electoral fraud. The government says the measures are punishment for its seizures of white-owned farms.
ZANU-PF supporters condemn the sanctions while the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change says they are not the cause of the country's economic crisis.
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