IN May 2018, when the Zimbabwe Independent interviewed
British peer Lord Peter Hain — a prominent critic of former president Robert
Mugabe’s regime — he was optimistic about the birth of a new era in Zimbabwe
and was hopeful the country could rise from the ashes.
One year after the interview, Hain is now singing from a
different hymn book: he is publicly saying President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
government is a disaster and a mirror reflection of the old Mugabe era.
His dramatic volte-face is an indication of how Mnangagwa’s
re-engagement drive, which initially had global goodwill, is stalling within
just 12 months.
In 2017, when he took over power on the back of a military
coup, Mnangagwa heightened expectations for a country ruined by decades of
mismanagement and corruption as he promised to open Zimbabwe for business,
observe human rights and make bold economic and political reforms, which would
put Zimbabwe on the growth trajectory.
His first 12 months as an elected president has seen
international support and goodwill dissipating as he has dismally failed to
live up to the billing. Hain’s somersault symbolises that.
Hain was so hopeful about what he saw as a real opportunity
to revive Zimbabwe’s economy, he even assumed an advisory role in a leading
mining company in the country, African Chrome Fields (ACF), run by the Moti
Group to partly assist rebuild the country.
In a conversation with the Independent this week, Hain — an
internationally respected British politician and businessman — said he believed
Mnangagwa has betrayed his promises to turn around the country.
He described Mnangagwa’s tenure so far as “disastrous”. Hain
also referred the Independent to sentiments he shared on Twitter.
“Excellent article by @ianbirrell @thetimes on @edmnangagwa
disastrous repressive Zimbabwe government betraying every promise he made to
rebuild and renew after Mugabe despotism,” Hain wrote on Twitter last Thursday.
Hain also said he was no longer doing business in Zimbabwe
after ending his relationship with the Moti Group in February this year. He was
an adviser to the group, which mines chrome in Midlands.
“My year’s agreement as adviser to the Moti Group ended six
months ago in February 2019 and I decided amicably not to continue,” Hain said.
During his visit to Zimbabwe in March 2018, Hain held
meetings with Mnangagwa, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi
as well as several ministers.
“… I think what is very clear to me is that President
Mnangagwa understands the need for Zimbabwe to engage with the rest of the
world on a business basis to bring investment, create jobs like Moti Group is
doing and also to comply with international best practices,” he said at the
time.
Hain, however, said he was still keen to advise on good
labour relations, working conditions and environmental protection policy issues
as well as community relations by local corporates.
Last week, the European Union delegation together with the
missions of France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and the
United Kingdom as well as Australia, Canada and the United States issued a
statement condemning the brutal crushing of demonstrations and attacks human
rights defenders and activists.
“Intimidation, harassment and physical attacks on human
rights defenders, trade union and civil society representatives, and opposition
politicians — prior to, during and following the demonstration in Harare on 16
August — are cause for great concern,” the heads of mission said.
“The Zimbabwean constitution guarantees the right to
personal security from violence and prohibits physical or psychological
torture. The Heads of Mission urge the authorities to respect these fundamental
rights, and to hold perpetrators of violence legally responsible.
“The Heads of Mission call on the authorities to respect
the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression as
well as to peaceful protest, and urge all political party leaders and supporters
to abstain from threats and incitement to violence as well as acts of violence
or vandalism.
“The security forces must adhere to their Constitutional
mandate and exercise restraint and proportionality, while maintaining public
order.”
The hard-hitting statement was dismissed by government as
interference in the country’s internal affairs.
EU head of delegation in Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen publicly
condemned human rights abuses during a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission
(Zacc) and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) campaign launch, angering
Mnangagwa who was in attendance.
Okkonen did not mince his words, condemning government’s
banning of the MDC demonstrations, abductions and crackdown on civil liberties.
“Unfortunately, we are witnessing these days several
developments that put constitutionalism and the respect for the rule of law in
question. Zimbabwe should show that it genuinely has made a break from the
past,” Olkkonen said.
In a rant akin to former president Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa
retorted: “Your Excellency (Mr Olkkonen) you referred to human rights. However,
this platform was for corruption. May I urge civil society to restrict
themselves to their mandate. The rule of law observance is not needed for the
purposes of pleasing other countries; we need it because it is proper for
ourselves.” Zimbabwe Independent
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