Posted on 10/23/2018 4:10:35 AM PDT by piasa
THE Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade is planning to meet members of the United States Congress and the European Union to discuss the removal of sanctions as part of its re-engagement drive.
In an interview yesterday, committee chairperson, Kindness Paradza said the committee's major thrust is re-engagement and international trade.
"Foreign Affairs is the face of Zimbabwe and we have been given an additional mandate which is international trade. So, what we are going to do this session is to assist the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in re-engagement programmes, as well as bringing in foreign direct investment through international trade and expanding our exports so that we bring in foreign currency So, that is our major thrust and also the removal of sanctions. My committee is going to engage Congress, the US through their external foreign affairs committee at Congress including the European Union so that we deal with these issues and Zidera as well," said Paradza.
He said his committee would also advocate for the resuscitation of major industries which are huge foreign currency earners like Ziscosteel. The committees' efforts would complement Government's efforts led by President Mnangagwa in its re-engagement drive. President Mnangagwa is on record saying Government is encouraged by the positive responses from the re-engagement process. He has implored local companies to take advantage of the improving relations between Zimbabwe and top global powers to boost their production capacity and consequently exports.
"As our engagement and re-engagement efforts begin to yield visible benefits, I challenge industry to anticipate the expanded export market and develop business strategies with this in mind," said President Mnangagwa while officially opening the 7th edition of the Exporters' Conference in Harare earlier this month.
In August, US President Donald Trump signed into law the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act which is an amendment to the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001.
The re-engagement of nations that had literally slammed the door on Zimbabwe, particularly after the land reform programme, started in November last year when the new administration led by President Mnangagwa came into office. Already, plans to re-join the Commonwealth are at an advanced stage while relations with multilateral financial institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are improving.
The IMF has indicated willingness to assist the country to structure a debt clearance strategy.
Acknowledging the U.S. role in his debt relief plan, Ncube said Zimbabwe needed to embrace Washington’s conditions as spelt out in its Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera). That sanctions law was enacted in 2001 in response to alleged human rights abuses by the Zimbabwe government under former President Robert Mugabe. Amended this year, it sets tough conditions for Zimbabwe including electoral reforms, accountability for past atrocities, compensation for dispossessed white farmers and greater transparency in diamond revenues.
Read more at: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001299830/zimbabwe-to-clear-imf-loan
If the government starts treating their citizens...black and white...with respect then maybe we should reexamine our position.
You’re WHITE folks.
We HATE you.
You MUST feel guilty about that.
Buy from us. Give to US. GIMMIE!! Remember your GUILT!!
Zimbabwe is a metaphor of a country, only of note because it’s easy to append to some orally lexicographic list of other {countries’} names.
I’m hoping Trump’s tougher sanctions stance may induce some positive change but it’s clear Cuba and China are still keeping their fingers in the mess there; why Cuba does I don’t know unless they have a need for platinum.
Zimbabwe may be of interest to any nation whose industries need resources from the “platinum group” elements:
Iridium
Osmium
Palladium
Platinum
Rhodium
Ruthenium
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.