Staff Writer
HARARE – Citizens Against Economic Sanctions (CAES) interim leader, Mr Ellison Muchenje Samuriwo has commended newly sworn-in Senator Dr. Kudakwashe Tagwireyi for ‘sailing through economically’ despite remaining on the United States and European Union sanctions list.
Speaking to journalists in Harare, Muchenje said Tagwireyi’s elevation to the Senate and continued business operations prove that targeted sanctions have failed to cripple targeted Zimbabweans.
“Dr Tagwireyi’s swearing-in is a testament that sanctions are not a death sentence,” Muchenje said.
“Here is a man who has remained on a sanctions list for years, yet he continues to invest, create jobs, and now serve the people in Parliament. That is resilience. That is patriotism. That is what we must celebrate as a nation,” he said.
Muchenje said CAES views Tagwireyi’s journey as proof that Zimbabweans targeted by sanctions have adapted, innovated and contributed to national development despite restricted access to international finance.
“When they put you on sanctions, the intention is to isolate you, to bankrupt you, to make you an example. But Senator Tagwireyi has defied that script,” he added.
“He has built businesses, employed Zimbabweans, and now he has been trusted by the people to represent them in the Senate. That sends a clear message to those who impose sanctions: you cannot sanction a whole nation into submission,” Muchenje said
CAES, a lobby group formed to push for the unconditional removal of all forms of sanctions on Zimbabwe, has been vocal that sanctions hurt ordinary citizens more than targeted individuals.
Muchenje urged the government, private sector and civic society to rally behind Zimbabweans who continue to deliver despite sanctions.
“We must stop treating sanctioned individuals as pariahs. If they are building factories, paying taxes and now serving in Parliament, then they are part of the solution,” he said.
“Senator Tagwireyi’s story should inspire other young entrepreneurs. Sanctions must not be an excuse for failure,” Muchenje appeals.
He added that CAES will continue to document cases of Zimbabweans thriving under sanctions to use in international advocacy for their removal.
Dr. Kudakwashe Tagwireyi was sworn in as Senator this week. He remains one of several Zimbabwean businesspersons and officials on the US and EU sanctions lists imposed at the turn of the millennium over governance and human rights concerns.
The government has consistently argued that sanctions are the major impediment to economic growth, while the US and EU maintain they are targeted and aimed at specific individuals.
For CAES, Tagwireyi’s new role is both symbolic and practical.
“This is not about one man. This is about proving that Zimbabweans can succeed despite illegal sanctions. We commend Senator Tagwireyi and we wish him well as he serves the nation,” Muchenje claims.