The South African Parliament yesterday paid tribute to the late former President Robert Mugabe, describing him as an icon of the liberation of Africa.

The legislators said Zimbabwe should be allowed to solve its problems without the interference of external forces and illegal sanctions imposed on it by Western countries should be lifted.

Paying tribute to Mugabe, African National Congress (ANC) MP Joseph Maswanganyi said sanctions had done harm to the economy and people of Zimbabwe.

Mugabe died in Singapore on September 6 at the age of 95 and was declared a national hero before burial at his rural home in Zvimba, Mashonaland West Province, in line with his family’s wishes.

“Today we join the people of Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa to call for the lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe which have done more harm to the people and the economy of Zimbabwe,” Maswanganyi said.

“Our approach to this again would be guided by our principle that the problems of Zimbabwe will be solved by Zimbabweans themselves and through multilateral platforms like SADC and the African Union.”

Maswanganyi said the late former President Mugabe would be remembered for his bold step on land redistribution, which Zimbabwe is still severely paying for through Western-imposed sanctions.