Cabinet has approved the theme and activities for the 2026 SADC Anti-Sanctions Solidarity Day commemorations, which will be held in Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province, on October 25.
Briefing the media, during yesterday’s Post-Cabinet Press Briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Zhemu Soda, said Cabinet had approved the concept paper for the Anti-Sanctions Day.
“The 39th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government endorsed 25 October as SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, since 2019, providing an annual platform for the Region to reaffirm its collective solidarity with Zimbabwe and call for the unconditional lifting of all illegal sanctions imposed against the country,” Dr Soda said.
He said Zimbabwe had continued to commemorate the day annually under different themes highlighting the effects of sanctions and reaffirming the country’s position on their removal.
“The theme for 2026 is ‘Leveraging Regional Integration and Global Partnerships for Economic Transformation beyond Illegal Sanctions’,” Dr Soda said.
He said the theme underscored Zimbabwe’s commitment to leveraging regional and international partnerships to create opportunities for economic transformation.
“This underscores the evolving thrust of Zimbabwe’s Foreign Policy and national development agenda, to harness the country’s expanding regional and global engagements and to create opportunities for economic transformation,” he said.
Dr Soda said the commemorations would take place as Zimbabwe continued to play an active role within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in promoting collective self-reliance and strengthening regional economic cooperation.
“This includes championing efforts to rationalise regulatory, administrative and logistical barriers that constrain intra-regional trade and competitiveness, removing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and strengthening regional value chains,” he said.
He said the annual event provided an opportunity to assess the effects of sanctions on Zimbabwe and their wider implications for neighbouring countries.
“The SADC Anti-Sanctions Solidarity Day annual commemoration serves as an opportunity to reflect on the socio-economic toll of these sanctions on Zimbabwe, as well as their broader regional repercussions,” Dr Soda said.
The commemorations will bring attention to regional solidarity and the importance of strengthening economic partnerships, trade and cooperation as Zimbabwe pursues its national development objectives.
Cabinet’s approval of the 2026 programme comes as the country continues to advocate the removal of sanctions while pursuing regional integration and global partnerships as avenues for economic transformation.
