We won’t force reengagement: ED

Source: We won’t force reengagement: ED – Open Parly

By Daniel Chigundu

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said while the country is open to reengagement; they are however not going to force anyone.

Zimbabwe has suffered economically after falling out of favour with the international community owing to alleged human rights violations and the situation was even made worst when it pulled out of the Commonwealth.

This isolation saw the country failing to access lines of credit from international financing institutions and the much needed foreign direct investments (FDI) a development which resulted in massive deindustrialisation in the country.

However, since he came to power on November 24, 2017, President Mnangagwa has globe-trotted telling the world that the country is ready to do business with anyone and unlike his predecessor, he will look in every direction.

Addressing Zanu PF supporters at an election campaign rally at Chipadze Stadium in Bindura, President Mnangagwa said they will seek mutual reengagement built on respect for each other.

“We have said we shall engage and we shall re-engage, when we say we shall engage there are countries and nations of the international community and international organisations who had not engaged with us before, time is now for them to engage with us and we are saying to them Zimbabwe is open for business.

“We want mutual cooperation, mutual engagement where there is respect for the partners, we respect them and they respect us also because we are country that is on engagement.

“When it comes to re-engagement we are saying as a result of sanctions those who had disengage with Zimbabwe we are saying come back we are open let us re-engage but we will not force you to re-engage but we are open.

“You are the ones who closed your doors and so you’re the ones to open them as well our doors remained open so we are saying those who are willing re-engage with us,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said countries can do better when they relate to each other as friendly and respectful nations, mutually respecting each other, adding that economic cooperation can thrive when people or nations engage each other.

The President said he is determined to see the country moving forward so that it can be in the same league as other countries in the region and abroad.

“We want this country which has suffered stagnation for a long period as a result of sanctions, for us now to move forward, leap-frog and catch up with other countries surrounding us and even those third world countries in Asia and Europe and Latin America.

“We want to catch up with them and even overtaking them as well because Zimbabweans are clever, intelligent and are educated,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa has assured his party supporters that he is confident of winning the impending general elections set for 30 July where he will be competing against 22 other candidates