BY AWAKHIWE KHUMALO
The government’s much taunted anti-sanctions public march turned to be a damp squib on Tuesday after a few elderly people turned out in Victoria Falls, leaving the stage for school children to protest against the western embargo.
President Emmerson Mnangwagwa’s government is blaming the devastating economic crisis in Zimbabwe on years of sanctions.
The economic crisis is characterised by g galloping inflation and service delivery failures, but western countries their measures are limited to travel restrictions and targeted asset freezes as well as travel bans against top security commanders and ruling party officials.
Government organised marches in different parts of country to protest against the sanctions.
The march in Victoria Falls saw children from primary and secondary government owned schools marching in the city carrying placards saying: “We Want Jobs, We Want Money, Sanctions You Have Crippled Our Economy. “
They marched from Chinotimba Bus Terminus Rank up to Chinotimba Primary School where the main event was held.
On the way, songs were sung, while police and teachers ushered the children.
Only a few community leaders showed their faces and then disappeared into thin air as the march continued.
Throughout the four hour programme, the children were given roles for various performances which included plays, songs, poems and speeches about the occasion.
A Mosi –Oa-Tunya High School student pleaded with the western countries to let Zimbabwe be free in a poem..
“They say they were not meant to hate people, how is that supposed to work?” the student quizzed as he read the poem from printed paper.
“It’s our land, we are also people.
“We did our best to survive, is it because of our heritage that we suffer?
You took what you wanted, left us with nothing and sanctioned us, economy left squashed.
“No trade freedom, we were looking for something, a tiny tea pot…you are suffocating us, why?
Another student took to the podium and said: “My fellow Zimbabweans, let’s stand against sanctions, let’s unite and have a voice to say no sanctions.”
Upcoming gospel singer Andrea the Vocalist was among school children sent to march and perform songs.
Andrea’s Uhambo, whose lyrics were changed to suit the occasion and also denounced the sanctions saying they were hampering the development.
After all the schools had performed, the Sadc national anthem was sung to close the event.