– Introduces Polad club To AU
– Complains about sanctions from the European Union and the United States of America.
ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa presented a speech in which he was a lone voice – practically “talking to himself” on the issue of targeted sanctions against the military he has used to kill over 24 people since the 1st August 2018 when he changed the national election results as fully filmed on the state broadcaster [ZBC].
Addressing African leaders in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the 33rd African Union Summit, Mnangagwa complained about sanctions from the US and the European Union, [although the only remaining EU sanctions are on the late president Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries].
Yesterday, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa ignored Mnangagwa’s request to introduce Mnangagwa’s anti sanctions agenda to the summit. The African Union as a whole, also completely avoided the topic as they emphasised rather the Silencing of The Guns By 2020 theme.
The theme of the year is: “Silencing the guns, creating conducive conditions for Africa’s development,” a direct contradiction to Mnangagwa as a person and as a leader – the United Nations has implicated him for using live ammunition since the 1st August 2018 when he changed election results.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW
Mnangagwa said it’s not his country that is targeted by the United States and its allies as several countries on the continent and beyond are battling with economic sanctions imposed on them.
Mnangagwa said for international peace and cooperation, dialogue not sanctions is the right approach.
“This is in solidarity with the people and governments of South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi and Cuba who are equally suffering from similar unilateral sanctions. These imposed sanctions have been on for two decades. The EU has taken positive steps to repeal the sanctions regime, we urged them to complete the process by removing the remaining measures against Zimbabwe. My administration has reneged the European Union and the United States of America with a view to normalise our bilateral relations and put the past behind us,” he said.
Mnangagwa also briefed members of the African Union on developments on the ground as well as measures being adopted to enhance the livelihoods of the country’s citizens.
“In our quest to enhance national cohesion unity and political tolerance, we have established Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) which brings together various political actors in our country. Meanwhile, our efforts to revive the economy are ongoing, and the ease of doing business has improved as acknowledged by the global index on ease of doing business. We have opened up media space to more players under the new dispensation. Zimbabwe is therefore fully committed to continuing those voluntary reforms because they are good for our people and further facilitate sustainable development, national unity and peace,” he explained.
At the ongoing 33rd African Union Summit, Zimbabwe officially joined the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) despite outstanding issues. In June last year, Government said it would fully implement the AfCFTA after 15 years when the country is expected to have fully industrialised.
Zimbabwe is also a member of the G6 countries, a grouping that supports the AfCFTA but argues they face specific development challenges. – state media/additional reporting