Ramaphosa calls for end to Zimbabwe sanctions, will meet Mnangagwa
- Ramaphosa has asked that sanctions against Zimbabwe be lifted
- He also said that he was planning to meet with Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa
- This comes after increasing instability in the country and reports of a government crackdown
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Cyril Ramaphosa has called for an end to sanctions against Zimbabwe.
He made the calls from Geneva, Switzerland. Ramaphosa is in the country for the World Economic Forum. He also said that the South African government was communicating with Zimbabwe regarding a plan to assit the struggling nation.
Zimbabwe has been in a state of crisis since protests erupted in recent weeks following a dramatic increase in the price of fuel. The fuel price hike was an attempt to address Zimbabwe's economic woes, which had been worsening over the preceding months.
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The Zimbabwean government responded to the protests with a brutal police and military crackdown. The army has been accused of firing at protesters with live ammunition and beating up citizens, with human rights organisations claiming that at least 8 people have died since protests began.
The government also drew condemnation after it imposed an internet blackout following the start of the protests. Critics of President Mnangagwa have claimed that he ordered the blackout in order to hide evidence of the state's harsh clampdown on citizens. This comes amid growing concerns that Zimbabwe is slipping back into a state of authoritarian rule.
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The chaos prompted President Mnangagwa to cut an overseas trip short and return to Zimbabwe. He is also expected to skip the Davos World Economic Forum.
Ramaphosa said that Zimbabwe's crisis should be of concern to the entire continent. He said he planned on meeting with Mnangagwa at a later date to plan a way forward.
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Source: Briefly News
