by Zivanai Dhewa

Since Econet Wireless founder and chairman, Strive Masiyiwa came out on Capital Connection Africa castigating sanctions and their effects of the economic growth of Zimbabwe, the social media has been ablaze with some social media terrorists tearing him apart for denouncing sanctions.

There is a growing tendency by some opposition political parties and their activists to argue that are valid the reasons for Zimbabwe being burdened by the Sanctions embargo. They attack and terrorise every person that seems to support Government initiatives to avert the impact of sanctions on ordinary people.

One social media user who operates under the Titter handle, @matigary recently registered his displeasure with such people when he tweeted: “the video when Strive Masiyiwa denounced sanctions on Zimbabwe…triggered a social media onslaught on him by same people (who are) crying that things are tough.”

Another netizen referred to as Albert Musonza, blamed the naivety of opposition supporters who he said were being used and failing to understand that sanctions are not triggered by the alleged lack of reforms as the MDC Alliance tries to convince the world. Musonza explained that the punitive measures were in place to advance America’s own agenda and that the MDC Alliance is just a pawn in the game.

“Problem with the naïve people in the opposition, (is that) they think US sanctions were put in place for their own reforms and demands.  The sanctions were first put in place (in response to the) violence (which was reportedly meted) on white commercial farmers (during the land reform programme), and with time US has become more aggrieved with the Zimbabwe-China-Russia relations,” said Musonza.

Tendai Vushangwe weighed in blaming the desperation for relevance by the opposition to a point of selling their souls to the devil.

“Opposition parties are enjoying it because they want to gain political mileage, they are selfish and self-centred,” said Vushangwe on his Twitter handle.

Isaac Gundani exposed the limited thinking capacity by some MDC Alliance leaders for calling for sanctions instead of joining the call for their removal saying even if they were to be in power the sanctions will never be removed overnight because the real reason for sanctions imposition was land.

“(Former South African President, the late Nelson) Mandela became first president of a democratic South in 1994, but the US still had him listed as a terrorist until 2008.  These sanctions are largely about land.  Even if a new government comes, sanctions will stay.  The moment South Africa mentioned land reform, the US mentioned sanctions,” said Gundani.

“Across the world, sanctions hurt ordinary citizens in the same style.  It is interesting to me that our opposition MDC Alliance and its leader Nelson Chamisa has not spoken against them.  They seem to be enjoying them,” he added.

“Gentlemen, sanctions have wreaked untold suffering in our economy.  The people calling for sanctions must be patriotic. There is nothing to gain by denying our country foreign currency lines of credit.  There should be a law against people advocating for the destruction of our economy through calling for sanctions,” reiterated one Maurice Maswiswi.