Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has said the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) will find it difficult to approach the West to lift the economic sanctions but the nation should help the party engage the countries that imposed the embargo, The Herald reported on Friday.
In his traditional Independence interview with ZBC News, the President urged the nation to be patient with the MDC-T on the campaign for the removal of sanctions and called on all Zimbabweans to use the occasion of the country's 29th Independence Anniversary to foster national unity for the sake of development of the country.
Mugabe said the MDC-T needed encouragement to fully engage the West over the illegal economic embargo on Zimbabwe.
Asked if the country's leadership was moving together in condemning the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the European Union, the United States and their allies, Mugabe said , everyone wanted the embargo lifted forthwith.
"You have got to understand that yesterday (Thursday) the opposition thought sanctions would be a good weapon against the ruling party that would yield them a favourable position in the political system. So for them (MDC-T), after calling for the imposition of sanctions yesterday (Thursday) to go back to those same people and say remove the sanctions is difficult," Mugabe said.
"Although I know that they want them to go quickly it is not easy. Prime Minister (Morgan) Tsvangirai preferred to call them restrictive measures when saying they should be lifted. That is the best they can do. They will have psychological difficulties and we should help them get over it," he added.
"The sanctions are unwarranted and it is important that we sing the same song. With time they will have summoned the courage to go to the same people and say we don't need them anymore," he said.
Mugabe urged the nation to cherish its sovereignty and build a foundation for future generations.
"Our independence by its very nature, makes us one people, it unites us. Let us remain one. As one let us therefore, prepare for ourselves a future by developing our country together," he said.
He said following last year's elections the best way forward for the country was a government of national unity.
"You can call it an inclusive government but really it's a government of national unity. It has brought peace and stability," he said.
Mugabe said despite a few isolated acts of violence, which he has roundly condemned, the environment in the country was conducive for investment while calling for the immediate lifting of sanctions.
Source: Xinhua
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