Staff Reporter| The US Senate was yesterday told to keep sanctions and punitive measures on ZANU PF in place until after 2018 elections.
Presenting before the panel, former Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the opposition movements will only advise the IMF and other institutions after assessing the conduct of the 2018 elections.
Biti spoke to a panel of senators saying the western world must only assist when reforms have been effected and acted upon by the Emmerson Mnangagwa regime.
He said, “if we are able to deliver as a country a free fair and legitimate election, in respect of which everyone accepts the results thereof and the provisions of the constitution spelt out in Section 2 of our constitution, the founding values of the constitution that deal with power transfer are respected and there is genuine power transfer in Zimbabwe, then quite clearly, there is an obligation in the international community to assist us particularly the third question where we have to engage the World Bank, the IMF and the Paris Club of lenders.”
Biti’s co panelist Dewa Mavhinga also added saying the US should push SADC, AU to insist on a roadmap for free elections, demanding domestic and international observers, and making sure outgoing ZEC boss Rita Makarau’s replacement is independent.
The development sparked a flame of fury inside ZANU PF’s Lacoste faction.
Tanzania-based political analysts Mr Tafadzwa Mugwadi said the MDC was exposing itself as a Trojan horse of imperialists. “Zimbabweans must be vigilant to repel this sanctions-mongering lot in the MDC. It is shocking that instead of contributing to the success of our new dispensation, the MDC is busy taking its begging bowl to its paymasters in their false hope of salvaging a clinically dead carcass. It is even more shameful that they are double dipping since they also get funded under the Political Parties Finance Act from Government. Unfortunately, they have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing since 2002 and come 2018, the writing is on the wall. President Mnangagwa is the only game in town.’’
Another political analyst, Mr Goodwine Mureriwa, said the MDC was misdirecting its efforts. “They are misdirecting their efforts. When Zanu-PF is gearing itself for elections by going for Congress this week to confirm their Presidential candidate, when it is encouraging its supporters to register to vote and when it is in the electoral mode, they (MDCs) are not doing the same. They are going outside to look for money but money does not vote,” he said. Mr Mureriwa said it was also surprising that the MDCs were in America looking for funding which they have received and abused since 1999.
‘The CIA knows that the opposition abused their funding from 1999 running into billions of dollars. Everyone knows what Tsvangirai did with the money . . . They are splinter movements in the MDC that came out of fights over foreign funding. They went to America and advocated for sanctions and sanctions came – they expect electoral reforms in Zimbabwe from America? In international law no country can make a policy on behalf of another as this is tantamount to interference.” Mr Mureriwa said the MDC was going to meet a very unreliable man in Donald Trump.
“They are desperate for funding but they are going to meet a very unreliable guy. This is the guy who said America first, America second, America third. They should have realised the Trump whom they are putting so much trust in is an unprincipled leader who is now doubted by everyone in international relations. He has made statements on Iran, Iraq and declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel in violation of standing UN resolutions on how to handle the Palestinian issue,” added Mr Mureriwa.
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44 Replies to “US SENATE DEBATE: Lacoste Furious As MDC Tells US Keep Zimbabwe Sanctions In Place Until After 2018 Elections”
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Exactly correct, the evil european people delude themselves that Africans of Zim are so stupid.
They foolishly think that Zimboz will blame fellow Africans if the wicked white man holds true to his vile vow to “make the economy of Zimbabwe scream” for regime-change.
Brainless.No party can be banned even the Ganja party exists.
There is nothing new about ED he was
there when this mess we are in started .and for him to claim to be able to fix anything is a dream .Take heed countrymen we might be creating another monster here .They are rushing to go borrow money yet they cant account for the millions they recovered from chombo : m not a mathematician but if they recovered around 20 million in all . Had that money been ploughed back into the banking sector we couldn’t be struggling to access cash today .
ZANU-PF LOOTING IN DRC… Five names of the top military commanders and two top Zanu-PF leaders are listed in the UN report titled Final Report on the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the DRC (2002) in connection with looting in the DRC through a company known as COSLEG. 1. the late general Zvinavashe (executive chairman of COSLEG 2. former Air Marshall Perence Shiri (now agriculture minister) 3. Brigadier General Sibusiso Busi Moyo (COSLEG director general) 4. the late Air Commodore Karakadzai (COSLEG deputy secretary) 5. Colonel Simpson Sikhulile Nyathi (COSLEG director) 6. Emmerson Mnangagwa (strategist) 7. Sydney Sekeramayi (coordinator) (p8)
The funds which were abused by MDC when Tsvangirai paid off another lady a whopping $300k could it be the same funds which Biti diverted and bought numerous stands in the low density suburbs which we are reading in other tabloids, i wonder.
The reasons why sanctions are in place were that the government was not respecting the rule of law ,abuse of human rights, elections were rigged and therefore the government was illegitimate. The ball is in this new government led by our current President ‘s court to hold free and fair elections monitored by respected Ogarns like the UN , Sadac and AU. Is that too much to ask for us Zimbabweans. It has been a tough road for the international community to get this far. Let’s give them what they want and we join their community.vanokwesha mazino havanyare kunyemwerera. If this administration is clean they should just invite these monitors.
What has he done to bea good president sir.
Ndokudiyi nhayi hama yangu kana dzako dzisangadonze? Kufungawo kwako you are entitled to that no matter how unintelligent it is.
Tazwiramba kudara nobody called for sanctions. Taurayi henyu dzimwe nyaya amana!
Taura hako DM. Nyaya iripachena iyi. Level playing field and adyiwa adyiwa. Period!
Nyika and others you can argue another 37 years with the gukurahundist lacostes of ZanuPF you can never win. A group of looters who have been murdering kidnapping and torturing defenceless people knows nothing else. Biti represented the voice of the majority.
No reforms No election No government . The will of the people will prevail. Not the will of a few, on the record, murderers trying to escape prosecution for the genocide they conducted 3 dacades ago and trying to use our country as a cover to avoid arrest . What many do not know is Mhosva hairove . Even if the whole army is with you , your day will come. Remember Zimbabwe is not an Island , its in Africa SADC and AU.
That is what they did when they got there. save your spin
You are comparing two different animals Sarah. Apartheid South Africa ya Botha and Libya ya Gaddafi were rogue states who relied on the vast wealth of their countries to perpetuate their evil rule on their subjects. Zimbabwe claims to be democratic. Let them demostrate that and show to be so. Kwete zwange zwichiyitwa naBob. Let Ngwena break with the past and he will earn everybodys sympathy from all the Western Capitals and it will be left for the Bitis to fight for a win in free and fair elections. Kana vahwina let Zanu give them the reigns pavano dyiwa let them accept and wait for the next elections. That is the kind of scenario everybody is clamouring for.
Language yeku vukura iyi ndo isirikudiwa mukore uno. Ngatimbosiyaneyi nayo and treat everbody as an equal Zimbabwean. Afreximbank can give us 1.6bln but that is only a pittance considering that our economy is over 10bln in the red. It would be good if others like World Bank, IMF and other multi-laterals were involved in resuscitating our economy. Reliance on pocket change from Afrexim will not solve our problems. Our problems are bigger than that.
The old ZANU had a penchant not to listen to alternative voices. Let this new order break with the past and those elections will fall away like yesterday. Kuyenda ku America azvirambidzwe izwo. Mavhinga and Biti were invited by the US Senate on Foreign Relations Subcommittee to give their perspectives on the new order in Zimbabwe and help the subcommittee how they should deal with the new regime.. It is not what you think that they went there to demand for sanctions.
Taneta nazvo zve treason izvo why should people who critiscise the wrongs the government is visiting on the people be lampooned with treason allegations. Ndo zve trajectory irikutaurwa naBiti kuti ngayichinjwe. What happened to free speech? Let MDC lose free and fair elections ini l will be the first one to congratulate ZANU pf. Let simply break with the past chete and do the rightful and needful and move this country forward chetechete.
Apartheid South africa, rhodesia , Libya under gaddafi were thriving economies without free and fair elections Nobody said the order of events must be as dictated by BITI. WHo is he?
Bheki there is absolutely no difficulty in Mnangagwa repealing POSA even today. MDC is ready to help with the numbers like they helped when they were impeaching Mugabe. There is no difficulty in Mnangagwa dissolving and demilitarising our ZEC yesterday and appointing civilians to run our elections without fear and favor. I am sure every Zimbabwean is expecting him to do that and let this country move forward. MDC could be clowns but they are asking for what is right chetechete. Name calling them and bastardising them will not change a thing. They are Zimbabweans and their voices and concerns should be listened to equally.
It does not work like that. Uda kushanda usina kufunda? Kana kutambira pay usina kushanda? Our politicians have a responsibility to put down the right fundamentals which include free and fair elections and guaranteed liberties and only then will everything else fall in place including a thriving economy. Don’t expect a thriving economy when the fundamentals are warped and wrong. It does not work like that.
Its not for you to decide, its not you who will decide let the povo decide pama elections. Biti said if at any one time they lost in free and fair elections then the international community has a responsibility to allow the country move forward. Zwenyu zwefamba nema results a-2018 muhomwe muchiziya kuti ningi achahwina ningi acharuza ndozwisirikudiwa izwozo. Kumuka maZimbo takatomuka nakudara there is nothing new there. We were oppressed by the last order let the new order bring in a new dispensation where the sanctity of my vote is guaranteed and respected. Chetechete!
What you miss is that a thriving economy is also a basic human right. We choose the economy over everything
While they are barking (vachingovukura) to World bank, IMF, our own (African) Afreximbank extends $1.6 billion without conditions
Unfortunately this is why Zimbabwe will not change. Many people do not understand politics as evidenced by comments on this forum. Zanu PF or Garwe are taking advantage of Zimbabweans. They will continue to oppress Zimbabweans until we wake up. Why are they refusing to make the reforms? What are they scared of ? If they do not want reforms whether MDC speaks to US or not sanctions will b there. MDC is not the brains for US and Europe they have their own people on the ground looking for information. What does zanu expect when they have soldiers all over the streets of Zimbabwe. Soldiers on our street invites many questions.
Listen to Biti and listen very hard. He said Zimbabwe needs a break with the tortured past of Mugabeism and not continue with the old order arguing the new Zimbabwe should be built on constitutionalism rule of law and prosperity. Majorly and rightly so, he said if there are proven signs of irrevocable and irreversible trajectory towards legitimacy, democratization and rule of law ONLY then should the international community engage with Zimbabwe – Not a bad stance absolutely. Let Zanu PF reform our institutions then everything shall fall in place chete chete. He is not asking for too much. Kunana Malawi chaiko wani there is thriving democracy. Ruling parties get the boot and and come back that is the nature of democracy.. Parties should learn to lose elections and accept the new order. It should not be difficult with Zanu PF. Izwi zwekuda kutonga moga muchingotonga moga muchingotonga chete ndozwirikurambwa izwozo. Kana magumirwa nekufunga economy vasisayigone let them give others to rule. If MDC messes up the people will give them the same sack and opt for Zanu PF if by then they would come with good alternative policies.
zvino hamuhwini free or fair zimbabweans are now awake
How stupid of the MDC ideologist to call for sanctions against Zimbabweans. Who will suffer.? Do they have people at heart? If it is true that they are calling for sanctions then they need to stay in the US and must not come back. They refused to join the Government when they were invited by our new President. Life will go on in Zimbabwe. We are used to the sanctions but we are opening doors for the international community to come and invest in our beloved country. MDC will be ashamed when the economic situation improves come 2018.Things will normalize. Its a passing phase. LONG LIVE OUR PRESIDENT CHIKARA NGWENA!!!!!
Urichi Sarah Mahoka chemunhu zweshuwa. Let Ngwena put the right fundamentals for holding of free and fair elections; allow our diaspora to vote; create an extremely indpendent ZEC and everything else will squarely fall in place. Thats what Biti said and is demanding. Kwauri its ok Ngwena to just assume the whole repressive machinery yaBob and perpetuate that? If Ngwena is a reformist let him start now undoing Mugabe’s evil repressive machinery and there won’t be this discussion about to keep or not to keep sanctions. Its that simple!
free and fair elections means MDC winning. nhaika.
If people are suffering there will not be free and fair elections. people have to have jobs, money and good life then we can talk of free and fair. Please Mr munangagwa make all their wishes reality when we are now economic powerhouse. kwete kuti free and fair election when we don’t have jobs and money.
If i was Mnangagwa i was going to ban that useless devilish party. Its only that our president has a loving and caring heart. The MDC party exists because the suffering and dying of people. How can Mbiti say that in a country that has a leader who try to bring economic change to help people who are suffering because of stupid opposition and G40 thieves. The wizards like Chamisa, Mbiti and Ncube going to beg for more suffering of Zimbabweans so that they get employment. That is bullshit, stupidity of highest level.Please Mr Chiwenga arrest Biti, Chamisa and Ncube a soon as they enter Zimbabwe. Operation to exorcise wizardry demons from uncultured opposition, please sir. We are prepared to defend our country from these witches and wizards. He can mbiti advise IMF and World bank, in what capacity. We only know that democratic reform means them in power, rule of law means Tsvangirai to be president, good governance means Chamisa as Vice president. even playing field means winning of MDC. free and fair lections means winning of opposition. Well the opposition will win in America and Britain. Please Mr USA continue giving your money to MDC and they will squander it like before- since 1999. what a futile exercise!!!!!!!. Your project will fail like before. You created it to remove Mugabe but you failed. Zanu pf cleansed themselves from Mugbe . So you can continue pouring your money but you money does not vote. It will not be put into good use. Zanu will continue winning and winning emphatically.
I have never supported ZANU PF all my life but I think the MDC is offside. I was hoping everyone will rally behind the new dispensation and work for sanctions removal, then the rest later. Sanctions affect us the generality not politicians. These MDC clouns are clueless.
It is definitely treason to me, people with no mandate at all inviting an external power to interfere with the livelihood of Zimbabweans through laws such as ZIDERA.
they are stupid they think if they come back with sanctions people will vote for sanctions. Remember while Bob was in an election mode Morgan was in an erection mode. now this history repeats it self
That’s fine. Let’s just leave that to the voters to decide in a free and fair environment. Mugabe is gone but the system of the last 37 years,remains. They’re not asking for a coup against zanu, but the implementation of the agreed reforms. These are not new demands, by the way. Legitimacy is at stake. If anybody asks for sanctions to remain after a free and fair election, then you can call that treasonous
YES!
It IS treason!
MDC alliance is misbehaving. If they habe an issue with Garwe then they must go to fight with him. Isu tadii, we are not Zanu PF. We just need a working economy. Sure someone can go to USA to promote sanctions on people who you want to vote for you. Pane kanyaya apa.
manje free or fair you will not win. You invite sanctions. Attacking zimbabwe industries attacking our jobs and expect to win?
Don’t you want free and fair elections, for once?
You are not wise. Sanctions are an attack on zimbabweans not on Garwe
Why would he put conditions on the lifting of sanctions? Who gave him that right to continue making zimbabweans who are desperate for an economy that can give them jobs suffer longer?Munangagwa extended a n live branch to the opposition and this is their reply? Sanctions hurt zimbabweans.They take away our jobs. The opposition is violating our rights by advocating for sanctions on tge country.I hope we have an electorate with enough sense to pay back .
Why is the MDC making itself the decider of sanctions on the people of zimbabwe? Who are they to attach the countries economy? Is this not Treason?I sincerely hope the people of zimbabwe will pay the back at the elections.
Thats a blue lie by Zimeye…obviously to prop up Zanupf….I listened to the whole discussion live…Biti actually said sanctions can be reviewed based on progress on the ground pertaining to democratic reforms, repealing oppressive legislation, rule of law, freedom of association etc…So the bottom line is that the ball is in Zanupf’s court to show or not show any reforms in order to earn trust and repeal of any sanctions if ever there are any….At no time did he say that sanctions must not be removed….thats a blue lie and bad reporting….lol
By not engaging tsvangirai,you got it wrong lacoste/garwe.wrong advice from Mr “chinhu chedu” chinamasese.wer’re back to war politics