Mugabe says ready to re-engage West

via Mugabe says ready to re-engage West. New Ziana. 18 June 2014

ZIMBABWE is prepared to restore normal relations with Western countries which have maintained sanctions against Harare since 2000 when the government expropriated prime agricultural land from White settlers, President Robert Mugabe has said.

The United States and the European Union (EU) broke economic ties with Harare in 2000, raising concerns over rights abuses and vote fraud although Harare said it was being punished for land reforms aimed at correcting historical injustices.

Addressing the 50th anniversary summit of the Group of 77+China in Bolivia Sunday, Mugabe said endorsement of Zimbabwe’s July 2013 elections by regional and international observers should encourage the West to re-engage Zimbabwe.

Election observers, including those from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern Southern Africa (Comesa) and the Africa Carribean and Pacific (ACP) countries, endorsed the elections won by the president’s Zanu PF party as free, fair and credible.

“Despite this positive verdict, our detractors have remained trapped in their negative posture,” Mugabe said. “We call on them to review their position and join us in re-establishing constructive relations.”

Mugabe said Zimbabwe was ready to partner both developing and developed countries to ensure successful implementation of its economic policies.

“We are particularly ready to co-operate with partners from both developed and developing countries to implement our own home grown blue-print — the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation,” he said.

“Developing countries still face unfavourable conditions in the global marketplace. The more powerful countries not only set the rules but also adjudicate them.

“Rules that govern international economic relations appear to apply only to those of us who are gathered here.