Zimbabwe says western sanctions undermine country's democracy

The sanctions regime imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain and its allies will undermine the outcome of elections if polls are to be held while they are still in place, an official has said

Addressing the delegates attending the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry (CZI) conference in Victoria Falls on Wednesday, Zimbabwean Minister of Industry and Commerce Welshman Ncube said other than being an economic problem, sanctions are also a political problem.

He said sanctions would provide an uneven election arena if they were not removed.

"It is important that we speak about them collectively with one voice, as business and as a country. The problem is that we are not speaking about them collectively with one voice, in particular business. We see the sanctions regime as a political problem," Ncube was quoted as saying by Thursday's The Chronicle.

"As long as they are there, there will always be an external factor that will determine the results. It will be difficult for some people to accept the democratic will of the people because it (elections) will be a handicap match. The sanctions undermine the idea of democracy. It will be easier to accept the result of the elections if the sanctions were not there," he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, President of CZI Joseph Kanyekanye also bemoaned the presence of the sanctions, which he said are affecting business and the people in general.

Source: Xinhua