| July 18, 2008 The Zimbabwe
Organisation of Opposition Political Parties, an alliance of
small political parties, has slammed the imposition of illegal
sanctions on Zimbabwe, saying foreigners should not be allowed
to meddle in the internal affairs of the country.
Speaking at the official launch of the
alliance, ZOOPP president Mr Gift Gotora said sanctions hurt
ordinary persons and not the intended targets, adding that they
should never be used as a tool to settle any differences.
"ZOOPP does not agree that our economic
problems can be solved by imposing sanctions of any size to the
country. If anything, the effect of sanctions, targeted or not,
tends to hurt most of the innocent than the intended targets,
because the intended targets are part and parcel of the nation
and are thus difficult to target without bruising the innocent,"
said Mr Gotora while addressing journalists in the capital.
"It is, therefore, the intention of ZOOPP
to seek to enlighten the international world on the consequences
of sanctions to the ordinary people of Zimbabwe. Ever since the
introduction of sanctions against Zimbabwe, the standard of
living of the majority has gone from worse to worst which in our
honest view is not the intended result of these sanctions."
The alliance's secretary for foreign
affairs, Reverend Gerald Mubaiwa, denounced foreign interference
and castigated Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga for his
remarks deriding Zimbabwean authorities.
"We do not want imposed democracy.
External forces should not determine who is going to rule
Zimbabwe," said Rev Mubaiwa, who is the leader of the
Multi-Racial Christian Democracy.
Turning to talks between Zanu-PF and the
two MDC formations, Mr Gotora said there was need for the
process to be all-inclusive.
"As a group, we want to participate in the
current and any future talks. We believe these talks should not
be partisan, but national. We believe we are partners with
Government in tackling national issues," he said.
Political parties that constitute ZOOPP
include Zanu Ndonga, Patriotic Union of Matabeleland, Zimbabwe
People's Progress Democratic Party and Zapu-FP. None of them has
representation in Parliament.
Mr Gotora said ZOOPP was formed with the
aim of inculcating a culture of tolerance among rival political
parties. |
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