SADC Reaffirms Call for Lifting of Sanctions on Zimbabwe
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has once again called for the unconditional lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, describing them as a major impediment to regional economic integration and social development.
In a statement marking Anti-Sanctions Day on 25th October 2025, SADC Executive Secretary His Excellency Elias Mpedi Magosi expressed the organisation’s solidarity with the Government and people of Zimbabwe, reaffirming its long-standing position that the sanctions are unjust and detrimental to the region’s collective progress.
Magosi recalled that the Anti-Sanctions Day was established by the 39th SADC Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in August 2019, to unify the region’s stance against what the bloc considers unfair external measures.
“Sanctions on Zimbabwe have evolved in form and target over the years, yet their effect has frequently destabilised Zimbabwe and the SADC region at large,” Magosi said. “The prosperity and livelihood of any civilisation should not be held at ransom by external forces.”
He emphasised that the sanctions continue to undermine Zimbabwe’s participation in regional trade and investment, thereby weakening SADC’s broader ambitions for economic integration and shared growth.
This year’s Anti-Sanctions Day is being observed under the theme ‘Inclusive Development through Heritage-based Innovation and Industrialisation, in a Multilateral World,’ which Magosi said reflects the region’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development amid global challenges.
Magosi urged countries that have maintained sanctions against Zimbabwe to “revisit their stance and engage in constructive dialogue within the context of our modern multilateral world.”
He further praised Zimbabwe’s resilience, noting that the removal of sanctions would unlock the country’s full economic potential and strengthen its contribution to the prosperity of both the SADC region and the African continent.
Concluding his statement, Magosi appealed to all 16 SADC Member States to stand in solidarity with Zimbabwe, saying: “Together, let us advance inclusive development where no country is left behind, as we pursue a shared future marked by peace, stability, and prosperity.”
