STAFF WRITER
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stuck his neck out for Zimbabwe once again when he used his address at the ongoing 78th United Nations General Assembly to denounce sanctions on his country’s northern neighbour.
Ramaphosa also condemned sanctions on Cuba, maintaining a strong diplomatic line in support of South Africa’s besieged allies – and for Zimbabwe Ramaphosa’s repeat of the mantra is a huge diplomatic coup following the just-ended elections which divided diplomatic opinion.
“South Africa continues to call for the lifting of the economic embargo that was imposed 60 years ago against Cuba; an embargo that has caused untold damage to the country’s economy and the people of Cuba,” he said.
“The sanctions that are also being applied against South Africa’s neighbour, Zimbabwe, should also be lifted as they are imposing untold suffering on ordinary Zimbabweans but also have a collateral negative impact on neighbouring countries as well such as my own country, South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa has been under severe attack from opposition in Zimbabwe and South Africa following his support of the ruling party in Zimbabwe, which recently won elections that were condemned in some quarters.
However, Ramaphosa – who faces elections in his country in less than a year – played down criticisms and hostile reports from observer missions such as Sadc, the European Union and Commonwealth; and attended the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa a fortnight ago.
Ramaphosa used the UN platform to denounce sanctions on Zimbabwe as well as Cuba.