Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana has confirmed the expected visit of United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan in Zimbabwe, Monday.
Douhan is expected on a ten-day impact assessment visit for meetings with various stakeholders from the government to civil society to evaluate economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the US and its Western allies.
The Special Rapporteur will present a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council during its 51st Session in September 2022.
Mangwana wrote on his Twitter page:
Ms Alena Douhan, the UN Special Envoy for Human Rights will be in the country from tomorrow to assess the impact of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.
There is no question on the deleterious impact of Sanctions on this country. Let’s all speak with one voice on #ZimSanctionsMustGo.
The sanctions were imposed on Zimbabwe nearly two decades ago and renewed annually.
The ruling Zanu PF has welcomed the impending visit of Ms Douhan.
Addressing the media at Zanu PF headquarters in Harare, acting party spokesperson Mike Bimha said the visit will lay bare the negative effects of sanctions on Zimbabweans.
He said Douhan was coming to interact with the people and Government to unpack the disastrous impact of the variois sanctions.
Western countries accused the Zimbabwean government of various human rights violations and a breakdown in the rule of law.