A group of 16 African countries has called on the US and EU to “immediately lift” economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

The policy was hurting the region, said Tanzania President John Magufuli, who is also the Chairman of the Tanzania President John Magufuli

Mr Magufuli, who took over the chairmanship of SADC at the regional body’s summit in Dar Es Salaam, said that the sanctions should be lifted because Zimbabwe, under President Mnangagwa, had opened a “new chapter”.

The sanctions were imposed in 2002 when Robert Mugabe was President.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa says removing them would attract western investors to Zimbabwe after close to two decades of economic isolation.

In March, US President Donald Trump’s administration extended economic sanctions by a year, saying they would not be removed unless political reforms take place.