via Bulawayo24 NEWS | ‘Zimbabwe needs to respect property rights’ by Staff Reporter 19 February 2014
United States Ambassador Bruce Wharton has said Zimbabwe can unleash opportunities by strengthening the respect of property rights in the country.
Wharton said foreign businesses make their own decisions on where to do business and investors are attracted by the way government deals with vices like corruption.
“The United States has absolutely no interest in a weak Zimbabwe. What is good for the US is stable, functioning governments around the world. ,” Wharton said.
“Zimbabwe’s sovereign policy decisions have had the greatest effect on economic outcomes for this country. Corruption is a problem in all human societies including the US. How it is dealt with sends a strong signal to investors. Corruption can best be dealt with through strong rule of law.”
Wharton said there was real commercial competition between his country and China but they did not differ in ideology.
Wharton said his country would continue looking for ways to normalise relations with Zimbabwe
He spoke against violence that recently rocked MDC-T where party deputy treasure Elton Mangoma and secretary general Tendai Biti were assaulted by angry party youths.
“Violence has no place in political systems regardless of its source,” he said.
The ambassador said all human beings deserve human rights, regardless of their sexual orientation.
“On gay rights, the debate is on-going but the trend is clear, all human beings deserve their rights. Gay rights are human rights,” Wharton said.
COMMENTS
This egocentric brand of politician will never listen. Madness.
As Mugabe said Zimbabwe is mine but he didn’t mean Zimbabweans owned the land only him and his cronies
Telling ZANU to respect property rights is like telling an alcoholic that drinking is bad.
Well said John.The way land aquisition was done leaves a lasting impression on people outside Zim.They will not invest until the whole sordid affair is put to rest with some sort of compensation.Foreigners were told their investments were safe,what a joke.
Yes John you are right except an alcoholic can go into rehab & become a contributing member of society but not this lot. They are unrepentant & will continue to plunder our beautiful country until the people stop them.
This article headlines about property rights,flies past the issue,and then goes on in more detail about MDC and gay rights.
Excellent journalism.
Is Mugabe still alive? Must be as the world has not heard of Zimbabwe for years.