EU diplomat happy with Zim trajectory

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

 Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann

Wallace Ruzvidzo, Herald Reporter

EUROPEAN Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann says Harare is committed to having a Staff Monitored Programme (SMP) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), whose preconditions have already been agreed to.

This comes after an IMF team conducted a staff mission to Harare from January 30 to February 13, culminating in the conclusion of engagements with Government officials and key stakeholders on Zimbabwe’s SMP.

In an interview at the weekend, Ambassador von Kirchmann said the commencement of the SMP, which would be a “milestone achievement” for Zimbabwe, was not far.

“I think we are not far away from it (SMP), and we hope it will be signed soon,” he said.

“And that would be a milestone achievement. I believe pre-conditions have been discussed and we are close to, I hope we are close to signing.”

Representative of the ongoing Polish Presidency of the EU Council Mr Radoslaw Sikorski, who was in the country for a landmark visit, then weighed in expressing his confidence in the success of the SMP once it begins.

“The IMF has signed agreements on curing economies with dozens of countries over the last 40 years.

“They are really experienced in how to help an economy, but also how to monitor the conditionality, the fulfillment of conditions.

“You do not have to reinvent the wheel, if you just listen to the IMF, you will be fine,” he said.

Mr Sikorski, who is also Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Warsaw had previously had a similar experience to Harare.

“We had a very similar experience to you. We had shops for using the local currency and shops for using the dollar.

“Today the Zloty (Poland’s official currency) is actually gaining against the dollar and the Polish economy is doing very well.

“There are ways of dealing with it,” he said.

President Mnangagwa has already expressed Zimbabwe’s commitment to the success of the SMP.

“To anchor implementation of further economic reforms under the Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process, Government is currently negotiating a Staff Monitored Programme (SMP), with the International Monetary Fund,” said the President at the 6th High-Level Structured Dialogue Platform Forum: Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process held last November.

“The implementation of any reforms under the SMP, however, impacts negatively on the vulnerable groups of our population.

“In this regard, the protection of the vulnerable groups, through effective social protection programmes, is of critical importance to my Government.”

On Zimbabwe’s economic potential, Mr Sikorski said it was immense, while expressing the bloc’s interest in partnering African countries like Harare.

“You have wonderful tourist attractions. You have raw materials that we need. We recognise the huge economic potential of this part of the world, and we would like to be your partners in mutually beneficial enterprises and ventures,” he said.

Ambassador von Kirchmann said trade figures between Zimbabwe and the EU were low but there was scope to get them “much higher”.

“I do not have the figures at my fingertips, but they (trade figures) are far too low. They could be much, much higher, just starting with tourism.

“I mean, Victoria Falls is a wonder of the universe.

“Many more people would love to see it. You have a wonderful climate. You have talented and hardworking people,” he said.