THE imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe by the West is an act of cowardice and those behind the economic restrictions should lift them, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said.

Officially opening the 60th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) here yesterday, President Museveni unequivocally called for the removal of the illegal sanctions, which have been blamed for frustrating economic recovery efforts.
“On behalf of Uganda, I want to condemn the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe for such a long time,” he said.

“This idea of sanctions is cowardice.”
Zimbabwe was slapped with illegal sanctions by Britain and her allies at the turn of the millennium after the country embarked on a successful land reform programme as part of efforts to correct skewed land ownership which favoured the minority whites.

The country, as a result of the embargo, cannot access lines of credit, making it difficult to operate a modern economy.
“Why do you put sanctions if somebody is wrong?” said President Museveni.
“Leave him! He will be failed by the mistakes. Why do you have to put sanctions if you know you are right and somebody is wrong? That means you are not sure that one is wrong?

“Otherwise if you are sure that this one is wrong, why don’t you let him say by his own mistakes.”
President Museveni appealed for the immediate lifting of sanctions which are frustrating efforts to turnaround the economy.State media