via Leadership paralysis – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary. 3 November 2014 by Zimbabwe Vigil
The Vigil can’t get excited about the EU’s decision to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe. We were told it was coming some time back. We simply point out that the sanctions (or ‘targeted measures’) were imposed because of Zimbabwe’s rigged elections and lack of respect for the law. This has not changed and the EU knows it, though they talk blithely about ‘progress’ . . .
The simple truth is that the EU has accepted that its policy on Zimbabwe has failed. Instead of calling Zimbabwe to account it has given up and now regards Zimbabwe as, in effect, a failed state – a view apparently supported by the IMF, which recently said Zimbabwe was ranked 244 in the world in GDP per capita, with only 3 countries in a worse state (see: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/626-eddie-cross-business-as-usual on our Campaigns Page).
After our criticism of the British Ambassador in Harare for calling Mugabe ‘iconic’, the Vigil was pleased to note the caveats in her comments on the visit by a British trade mission. Ms Laing said ‘the Government of Zimbabwe will need to take steps to improve the environment for foreign investors, including those from the UK. We are clear too that economic progress must be matched by progress on governance and the rule of law, which are sought by Investors the world over, and are important in attracting those investors who help develop the local populations’ (see: Press Statement by Ambassador Catriona Laing on UK trade mission – https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/press-statement-by-ambassador-catriona-laing-on-uk-trade-mission https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/press-statement-by-ambassador-catriona-laing-on-uk-trade-mission).Finance Minister Chinamasa says the indigenisation law is to be clarified to encourage foreign investment but everyone knows that no decisions are being taken while Zanu PF tears itself apart. Mugabe himself complained that cabinet ministers must pull up their socks and get to work. But surely he was satirical as he went on to say they should cut down on expensive foreign jaunts . . . (see https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_w_president-slams-lazy-ministers-the-herald/ – President slams lazy ministers).
We are doubtful that a brief visit by British or Danish trade delegations will give them real insight into the tragedy playing out in Zimbabwe but it must have been difficult for them not to notice the paralysis of leadership in the country. As Zimbabweans in the diaspora, we can only welcome any genuine aid for the country that does not serve to prop up the regime. But we advise the EU businessmen to keep their eyes open. Zanu PF has created a culture in which agreements are never kept. As a surprised Chinamasa admitted after his last begging trip to China: they complained we hadn’t paid back our loans . . . !
So the message of the Vigil to the EU is: remember that there is rampant corruption, no rule of law and no prospect of free and fair elections under the current regime in Zimbabwe. The EU should take Morgan Tsvangirai’s point in his welcoming speech on Friday at his party congress: ‘Any re-engagement must be accompanied by a stubborn insistence by the international community on the universally accepted standards that ensure the guarantee of full freedoms and the enfranchising of the ordinary citizen. They must insist on key reforms that will ensure that the people put in place a legitimate government that will begin to address the challenges facing the nation.’ (See: President Morgan Tsvangirai’s opening address to the 4th congress of the MDC – https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!topic/mdcchangingtimes/
And the EU must also remember that, though Mugabe may be an icon, he is nevertheless an idiot, as so described by the new Malawi Ambassador to Harare (see: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/october-2014-headlines/ – New Malawi envoy called Mugabe an idiot).
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