Southern African leaders call for end to sanctions against Zimbabwe

SADC: Sanctions against Zimbabwe should end

KINSHASA, Congo — Southern African leaders are calling for an end to sanctions against Zimbabwe.

South African President Jacob Zuma says continuing sanctions will make it difficult for Zimbabwe’s power-sharing agreement to be implemented.

Zuma made the comments before departing Congo after a two-day Southern African Development Community summit that ended Tuesday.

Longtime Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe blames Western sanctions for his country’s economic woes. He says the sanctions, which are targeted at him and his cronies, make it difficult for the country to raise much-needed foreign funds.

A power-sharing government was formed in February. Under that deal, former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai became Zimbabwe’s prime minister.