By Dickson Bandera
Zimbabwe is set to host the annual SADC Anti-Sanctions Day Commemorations on Saturday 25 October 2025, with a series of activities lined up at the Heritage Village in Harare to mark the occasion.
The day’s programme will feature a national address by President Cde. Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, the diplomatic dissemination of his message through Zimbabwean embassies, and the issuance of a SADC Secretariat statement. The President will also launch a book co-authored by Zimbabwean academics.
A cultural and music gala will run throughout the evening, celebrating Zimbabwean heritage and creativity.
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development will release a documentary highlighting achievements in the SME sector, while the University of Zimbabwe will host public lectures and student-led panel discussions focusing on innovation, science, and technology as drivers of national development.
The event is being held under the theme, “Inclusive Development through Heritage-based Innovation and Industrialisation, in a Multilateral World,” and will bring together government officials, private sector players, cultural performers, diplomats, and students from across the region to celebrate the resilience of Zimbabweans under decades of unilateral sanctions.
These sanctions, imposed primarily by Western governments since the early 2000s during the land reform period, have continued to constrain Zimbabwe’s progress. The government maintains that they are illegal and unjustified, impacting ordinary citizens more than political leaders and restricting economic growth, industrialisation, and SME development.
The commemorations seek to call for the unconditional removal of sanctions, raise awareness of their negative impact, and celebrate the enduring strength of Zimbabweans.
The event also enjoys strong backing from other SADC member states, which continue to stand in solidarity with Zimbabwe against unilateral coercive measures, reaffirming regional unity and cooperation.
