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‘Fight sanctions’

Herald Reporter.

ZIMBABWEANS should unite and fight sanctions be-cause they do not affect the Government or targeted individuals, but the entire population, Cuban Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Cosme Espinosa has said.

He said like Zimbabwe, Cuba has been under illegal sanctions imposed by the United States since 1962 but managed to survive though unity of purpose among its citizens.

Speaking at the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre in Harare last week where the Cuban Embassy and Sardc presented a paper entitled “The Cuban Revolution: 50 Years Later”, Cde Espinosa said sanctions also affected a country’s politics.

“The system of sanctions against a country does not only affect the economy of a country, but also other sectors including health care, and the political well-being of a country among other things.

“At least 72 percent of Cuba’s population were born and lived under the blockade, according to conservative estimates.

“The direct economic damage suffered by the Cuban people from economic, commercial and financial blockades imposed by the United States on Cuba, since its inception up to the end of 2007, is estimated at over US$93 billion,” he said. Cde Espinosa also said to counter sanctions Cuba rebuilt relations with neighbouring countries and developed a vibrant tourism industry apart from luring friendly investors.

He added that Cuba also enjoyed good trade relations with Canada during the time they were under sanctions. — Herald Reporter.