STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE ON THE RENEWAL, BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OF ITS SANCTIONS REGIME AGAINST ZIMBABWE
HARARE – 5 MARCH 2020
We have noted, with disappointment but without surprise, the renewal of US sanctions against Zimbabwe for a further 12-month period.
Of particular regret, and where we must register our deep concern is that the narrative accompanying the renewal order makes no reference to, nor does it acknowledge or recognise any of the notable progress made in implementation of the political, economic and legislative reform programme outlined by His Excellency the President when he assumed office in November 2017, and further reinforced following the harmonised elections of July 2018.
We disagree strongly with the assertion that our Government has not demonstrated the political will to effect major reform.
Evidence of that reform abounds, inter alia, in the form of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, the repeal of POSA, the imminent repeal of AIPPA, the imminent licensing of Community Radio Stations and independent television stations, the raft of electoral law reforms already endorsed by Cabinet and now awaiting formal submission to the Parliamentary consultative process, the commitment to complete the alignment of all laws to the 2013 Constitution by the end of June 2020, the formal establishment of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), ongoing Ease of Doing Business reforms, the ongoing implementation of many of the Motlanthe Commission recommendations and, indeed, many others : all of it, ignored, most regrettably in the decision by the US Government to maintain its sanctions regime in place.
Notwithstanding this unfortunate stance, we will continue to seek meaningful re-engagement with the United States authorities on a mutual respect basis and we will, of course, continue to pursue the reform agenda we have set ourselves at a pace which is responsible, manageable and sustainable.
Honourable Lt General (Rtd) Dr Sibusiso Moyo, M.P. MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE