Page 52 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 26
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Economy
take to the International Court civilians, yet, the U.S. was on Zimbabwe, but they also did
of Justice. This case, along not conducting human rights similar assessments in every
with engagements with senior impact assessments to remedy African country under similar
government officials in South the damage caused by their coercive measures. ZASM’s
Africa, played a pivotal role illegal sanctions, as UN fight against sanctions had not
in convincing them to lead the sanctions guidelines stipulate. only brought benefits to POLAD
fight for the removal of these As a result, ZASM informed and Zimbabwe, but the entire
punitive measures against the advisor that they were continent of Africa, marking the
Zimbabweans. lobbying their government and first time the U.S. government
SADC to approach the ICJ to ever conducted an impact
Integral to this strategy was also charge the U.S. for perpetuating assessment of their sanctions
persuading the South African crimes against humanity against on civilians, anywhere in the
government to denounce Zimbabweans. world.
and cease recognizing the
western puppet opposition in Soon after, Johanna reported Once the assessments were
Zimbabwe (CCC), which called back to Congress, warning them completed, the Congressional
for the illegal persecution of of the legal risk of Zimbabweans committee issued a report to
Zimbabweans. taking their fight against these the White House, stating that
human rights violations to the U.S. executive order sanctions
The fact that U.S. sanctions ICJ. In response, on May 25, on Zimbabwe were depriving
violated human rights was 2021 (just a month later), Karen civilians of their human rights
corroborated by the U.S. Bass wrote an email to POLAD, and access to healthcare.
Congress Sub-committee on informing them that Congress
Human Rights, Health, and intended to undertake an impact It also noted that infant mortality
Organization, which conducted assessment of U.S. sanctions on had risen, more women were
an impact assessment of U.S. the country. dying in labor due to a lack of
sanctions on human rights and medical support, and many
health in Zimbabwe, starting For this purpose, she asked more were dying from curable
from the 25th of March, POLAD for a report on the diseases and injuries due to a
2021, under the leadership of impact of these sanctions on lack of medication, medical
Chairperson Karen Bass. civilians. This move by Karen equipment, emergency services,
Bass, gave POLAD legitimacy, midwives, nurses and doctors.
This assessment was prompted as they were now recognized
by a recorded meeting between by the U.S. government, and In September of the same year,
a U.S. Congress legal and shortly after the President the report was corroborated by
counter-terrorism advisor bought them cars. In turn, the UN Human Rights Council’s
named Johanna Le Blanc and members of POLAD’s economic report on the negative impact of
Rutendo Matinyarare, Chairman team approached ZASM for U.S. sanctions on Zimbabwe,
of ZASM, a month earlier on assistance with information for conducted by the UN Special
April 18, 2021. the report. Rapporteur for the negative
impact of unilateral coercive
In this meeting, ZASM argued Not only did the Congress sub- economic measures, Elena
that U.S. sanctions violated committee conduct an impact Dohan.
the human rights of 16 million assessment of U.S. sanctions
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