Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa appealed for patience Wednesday for his efforts to pull the country out of an economic collapse and called on the U.S. and Europe to lift “illegal sanctions” that he blamed for slowing down the recovery.

Mnangagwa made no mention during an address to the U.N. General Assembly of political repression under his rule, which has diminished hopes that Zimbabwe had been on the brink of change following the ouster of longtime leader Robert Mugabe, who died in Singapore earlier this month whose burial remains a myth.

More than 50 government critics and activists have been abducted in Zimbabwe this year, at times tortured and warned by suspected state security agents to back off from anti-government actions. Critics have accused Mnangagwa of resorting to strong-armed tactics as opposition to his government grows amid crippling inflation, debilitating water shortages and chronic power cuts.

Mnangagwa told the U.N. that government is making progress, including achieving a budget surplus through “fiscal austerity and discipline.”

He said government had established “an open political platform” for all parties to debate economic and political reform.

Mnangagwa said U.S. and European sanctions are “slowing down progress” and “punishing the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.”

The U.S. and the European Union imposed sanctions almost two decades ago over human rights abuses. While Mnangagwa addressed the General Assembly, an abducted and later released Dr Peter Magombeyi was leaving hospital through a court order after Mnangagwa’s police held him hostage refusing him to leave the country for further treatment in South Africa.

Mnangagwa, 77, who took over after Mugabe stepped down under military pressure from a military coup.

“I urge the world to be patient with us support us and to join us on this new and exciting journey together,” Mnangagwa said.

Watch Mnangagwa address the General Assembly in the video downloading below: