The former Matabeleland Governor, Obert Mpofu has said sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are also affecting strategic road construction and other infrastructure development projects, Sunday news reports.
In a telephone interview with the publication, the Zabu PF Admin sectary said:
It needs no genius to understand that sanctions are real and are not affecting those in Zanu-PF only as has been argued in some circles. Sanctions cut across the entire economic spectrum, isolating the country and making doing business with the international community not only difficult but impossible.
I remember the Nkayi Road was being constructed by a company from Italy but it pulled out. Then there was another from Turkey that also pulled out after the US imposed sanctions on us. A lot of other projects that were underway were affected and some of them are still in that state as the Government has no money to complete the work.
We only did a 40km stretch of the Nkayi Road before the contractors pulled out. A number of other roads were affected too. The Byo-Kezi Road, Plumtree-Lupane via Tsholotsho and many others were affected. We are happy that the Government is working on them now.
Sanctions have made noise in Zimbabwe over the past few days leading to the SADC sanctions day on Friday. Those accused of imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe have maintained that sanctions don’t harm the ordinary Zimbabwean as they target certain individuals and their businesses.
More: Sunday News