The European Union (EU) yesterday acknowledged that there
are some positive steps towards the attainment of political and economic
reforms by Zimbabwe.
Speaking after meeting President Mnangagwa at his
Munhumutapa offices in Harare where a number of political and economic issues
were discussed, EU head of delegation Ambassador Timo Olkkonen said the recent
announcement of the Staff Monitored Programme (SMP), alignment of the
Constitution and commitment to replace the Public Order and Security Act were
some of the positive steps so far.
“Now, we have recently seen positive steps. The Staff
Monitored Programme by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) is certainly one
of those. We have seen movement on the constitutional alignment agenda, the
Media Bills, the replacement of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA),” said
Ambassador Olkkonen.
The SMP announced at the beginning of the month is aimed at
implementing a set of policies that can facilitate a return to macro-economic
stability.
These policies, which are anchored on the country’s
Transitional Stabilization Programme (TSP), emphasise on fiscal consolidation, elimination of
central bank financing of the fiscal deficit, and adoption of reforms that
allow market forces to drive the effective functioning of foreign exchange and
other financial markets.
On democratic and political reforms, Cabinet has since
approved formulation of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill to replace the
Public Order and Security Act and is working on other Bills to replace the
Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Ambassador Olkkonen said although there has been a lot of
questions about these media laws, it was important to note that discussions
around them have already started and are going forward.
“I know there is criticism and questions about the details
of those Acts but I think it is important that there is a discussion starting
and going on now about those things and making sure that the legislative agenda
moves forward and that is by the way an area the EU is supporting, financially
through technical assistance. Recently we have seen positive steps,” said
Ambassador Olkkonen.
He however, said there has been a lot of expectations from
Brussels and other European capitals concerning political and economic reforms
in the country since the announcement of the Transitional Stabilisation
Programme (TSP) and electoral reforms.
“We had a good, a candid discussion on a wide range of
topics about the political and economic reform agenda that the Government is
implementing in Zimbabwe. We are very much supportive of the processes and even
financially supporting parts of that agenda such as the Constitutional
alignment agenda that we are supporting,” he said.
He said they also discussed the post-election disturbances
that affected mostly the central business district in Harare and measures
Government was putting in place to mitigate similar events from occurring again
as well as implementation of recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission.
Through the TSP, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into a
middle income economy by 2030 and running under the Zimbabwe is open for
business mantra, the country has also relooked into judicial laws relating to
settling of disputes. As a result, small claims courts have been established
across the country to deal with civil disputes and commercial crimes.
Government is also working on establishment of a One Stop
Investment Service Centre (OSISC), which seeks to do away with bureaucratic
processes investors sometimes come across.
As part of the economic reforms, Government is also
emphasising on strengthening good corporate governance practices in state-owned
enterprises, restructuring and privatisation among other measures.
The Second Republic has also embarked on an engagement and
re-engagement programme with the international community as part of its
political reforms. Herald
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