For 12 years, a carefully selected list of Zanu (PF) officials and companies has been under targeted measures imposed by the EU. Contrary to the spin that the Zanu (PF) government led by President Robert Mugabe has woven all these years, the country was never under sanctions.
The fact is that the EU, in keeping with the Cotonou Agreement, decided to disengage with the government because it had failed to meet essential elements spelt out by the protocol and agreed by all member states. From 2000, Mugabe’s government demonstrated blatant disregard for property and human rights and stood accused of poor governance and electoral fraud.
The EU therefore invoked appropriate and restrictive measures. The former relate to action taken to suspend direct engagement when a country violates the essential elements provided for under the Cotonou Agreement’s Article 9. Restrictive measures entail limiting or removing the privilege of travelling and doing business with EU member states and target individuals and institutions that are perceived to be in violation of the essential elements.
To show that there were no sanctions, the EU, together with the USA (which imposed similar measures), channelled about $2 billion into our country during that time. European companies continued doing business in Zimbabwe while all firms not associated with Zanu (PF) enjoyed the same privilege.
Even though some critics still feel that the EU has prematurely removed the appropriate measures and most of the individuals and companies from its restrictive measures list, this is now a fait accompli.
There are two broad opportunities that the EU decision gives us. First, the resumption of direct engagement must alert our politicians and decision-makers to the things we got wrong that led to international isolation and the collapse of the economy. You can only effectively march into the future if you are well armed with facts relating to your history.
Second, it is obvious that the re-engagement, if properly handled, will help put us on the path to recovery. It has the potential to unlock much-needed Foreign Direct Investment, provide funding for critical sectors and boost the international perception of Zimbabwe – widely regarded as a pariah state for more than a decade now.
The ball is in our court. The days of confrontation are over. We need to be sober and humble enough to admit our own weaknesses. There are several policies that were wrong, chief among them indigenisation and the land “reform” programme, that need a serious and sincere re-look.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga
I CANNOT FAULT YOUR ARGUMENT FOR ZIMBABWEANS TO MOVE ON WERE NOT FOR THREE REALITIES THAT YOU ASSUMED/IMPLIED:
1) YES THE EU HAS REMOVED ALL THE COMPANIES AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THE SANCTIONS LIST AND HAS AGREED TO RE-ENGAGE THE ZANU PF REGIME BUT THAT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE “A FAIT ACCOMPLI” BECAUSE THE USA, AUSTRALIA AND CANADA HAVE MAINTAINED THE SANCTIONS.
2) TO SUGGEST THAT ZIMBABWE CAN NOW GET THE MUCH NEEDED ECONOMIC RECOVERY IF WE ALL PUT OUR BACKS INTO IT FEEDS TO THE ZANU PF FALSEHOOD THAT IT WAS THE SANCTIONS THAT HAD CAUSED THE ZIMBABWE ECONOMY TO COLLAPSE. THE SANCTIONS WERE AN INCONVINIENCE TO THOSE ON THE LIST NOTHING MORE. EVEN IF ALL THE SANCTIONS WERE LIFTED THE ZIMBABWE ECONOMY WILL NOT RECOVER UNLESS THE REAL CAUSES OF MISMANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION ARE ADDRESSED.
3) EVEN IF ALL THE SANCTIONS WERE LIFTED AND THE PROBLEMS OF MISMANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION ADDRESSED THERE ARE STILL THE PROBLEMS OF THE UNACCEPTABLE INDIGENISATION LAWS AND ZANU PF’S REPUTATION OF CONTEMPTUOUS DISREGARDING OF PROPERTY RIGHTS. THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AS LONG AS THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT ADDRESSED.
THE ONLY MEANINGFUL WAY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN 2) AND 3) ABOVE IS FOR MUGABE AND ZANU PF TO STEP DOWN SO FRESH FREE, FAIR AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS CAN BE HELD. THE BALL IS FIRMLY IN THE REGIME’S COURT AND OTHER THAN PRESSURE IT TO STEP DOWN THERE IS LITTLE ELSE THE INDIVIDUAL CAN DO TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
IT SEEMS THE EU LIFTED THE SANCTIONS AND FORGOT THE DEMAND FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS KNOWING THEY WILL STILL DEMAND THAT INDIRECTLY. THE EU IS HEADING OFF MUGABE AT THE PASS!