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  • 12 Oct, 2023
  • Margaret Kamba
  • 1362 Reads

Sanctions can only be by our productivity: Cde Bonyongwa

By Margaret Kamba 


Youthful farmer Takudzwa Bonyongwa says "sweating the land is the only means to beat the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.


His remarks come at a time that the country prepares to commemorate the Anti-sanctions Day under the theme "Harnessing the Youth for Accelerated Socio-Economic Development in the Fight Against Sanctions."


Speaking during a tour of his family's farming venture in the Midlands Province, Cde Bonyongwa challenged the youth to be productive and heed to the call by His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa to build the country.


"We hear the story of sanctions which were imposed on our country, Zimbabwe because of the Land Reform Programme. As we stand on this land which caused the imposition of the sanctions, we have decided and taken the notion that for us to beat these sanctions we must farm," Cde Bonyongwa said.


"In our opinion, the sanctions which were imposed so that we become economically deprived. We have chosen to go against the notion of being economically deprived by sweating the land to make our livelihoods better not only ours but to empower those around us."


He added that he along with the employees at his farm are playing their part in fighting the sanctions.


"We have at least 100 plus households and together we are fighting to beat the poverty which was meant to derail us due to the sanctions," Cde Bonyongwa said.


"I remember the words by the late President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo that 'if you want to money, twist the word rima and you will see that it says mari. Having money is farming and farming is money."


He urged other young people to be productive by using their hands.


"The young people who think the sanctions are stifling their lives, I urge you to stretch out your hands and use them to grow the economy and build it. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo and we are the ones to build it no one else. We can only live our lives to the fullest if we have the power to use our hands to build the country."


President Mnangagwa is expected to deliver a televised key note address on the 25th of October to mark the commemorations. 


Southern African Development Community SADC member states will join Zimbabwe in calling for the unconditional lifting of the sanctions as they are also being affected.