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By A Correspondent President Emmerson Mnangagwa has once again blamed Western sanctions for Zimbabwe’s worsening economic crisis, admitting that the country is facing serious challenges but insisting that “illegal, heinous sanctions” are to blame rather than government failures. Speaking at the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day commemorations held at the Heritage Village in Harare on Saturday, Mnangagwa painted a grim picture of the country’s situation, acknowledging the economic turmoil but maintaining that Zimbabweans must remain “masters of our own destiny.” “We are facing head-on challenges and shocks, such as these illegal, heinous sanctions, climate change-induced droughts, and other public health emergencies,” he said, attempting to link the sanctions to the deepening suffering many citizens face daily. Despite widespread poverty, inflation, and crumbling public services, Mnangagwa claimed that the country’s “great walls remain strong” and that the nation’s “house of stone will never be breached.” Critics, however, argue that these statements reflect a disconnect between the president and the realities on the ground, as millions of Zimbabweans struggle to afford basic necessities. “The flame of our independence, freedom, and sovereignty burns brighter,” Mnangagwa declared. “Through unity of purpose, peace, focus, hard, honest work, resilience, and innovative pursuits, any obstacle, in whatever form, can be overcome.” However, his claims of progress and “resilience” come at a time when the Zimbabwean dollar continues to lose value, public hospitals lack essential drugs, and unemployment remains rampant. Many citizens and opposition leaders have accused Mnangagwa’s administration of hiding behind the sanctions narrative to avoid taking responsibility for decades of economic mismanagement and corruption. The president boasted that the country was on a “positive growth trajectory,” citing “increases in foreign currency earnings” and “resilience” in key sectors such as mining and manufacturing. “Despite the effects of illegal sanctions, our national economy has been on a positive growth trajectory,” he said, insisting that Zimbabwe will achieve its Vision 2030 goal of becoming an “Empowered and Prosperous Upper Middle-Income Society.” Observers have, however, dismissed these claims as propaganda, pointing to widespread hunger, a collapsing healthcare system, and a cost-of-living crisis that has left millions in despair. Mnangagwa admitted that sanctions have made it “difficult for Zimbabwe to access global lines of credit,” but critics argue that rampant corruption, policy inconsistency, and lack of investor confidence have done far more damage than any sanctions regime. “Regrettably, the illegal economic sanctions have fundamentally disrupted the ability of our country to access global lines of credit,” he said, adding that his administration has adopted “home-grown innovative development financing models” to keep the country afloat. At the same event, the president launched a book titled Standing Against Illegal Sanctions, Resistance, Policy Innovations and Advocacy, a government-backed publication that seeks to defend his administration’s policies over the past two decades. While Mnangagwa continues to rally against sanctions, public sentiment remains bleak. For many Zimbabweans, the president’s repeated blame on external forces no longer holds weight, as daily hardships worsen and the promises of prosperity under the so-called Second Republic remain unfulfilled.
