Five Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, including Mozambique, have reiterated their call for the removal of sanctions and other punitive measures imposed on Zimbabwe.

The challenge was reiterated on Wednesday afternoon in the city of Lilongwe, during the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day celebrations, according to "Noticias."

In a joint statement signed by representatives of Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the countries believe that the removal of sanctions could alleviate the socio-economic challenges currently faced by the Zimbabwean population.

Zimbabwe's ambassador to Malawi, Nancy Saungweme, said that the coercive measures imposed on Zimbabwe had damaged various sectors, as well as making the people of that country in particular and SADC as a whole vulnerable.

SADC's anti-sanctions day is traditionally observed on October 25 every year to raise awareness among imposter countries to remove the coercive measures imposed on Zimbabwe