ZIMBABWE will not mourn over the imposition of sanctions by
the United States of America, but will instead maximise exploitation of its
vast natural resources and ensure a better life for its citizens, President
Mnangagwa has said.
US President Donald Trump last week signed into law the
amended Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act (ZIDERA) aimed
at continued sanctions against Zimbabwe.
In an interview with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation
(NBC) on the sidelines of the 38th Sadc summit in Windhoek, over the weekend,
President Mnangagwa said besides the US, there were several other countries in
the world co-operating with Zimbabwe.
“If we are going to cry because some capital elsewhere is
imposing sanctions, then we will fail our nation,” he said when asked about the
illegal economic embargo.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe will fully utilise its
resources for economic prosperity.
“We must look at the resources which we have and utilise
those resources that we have to the maximum for the benefit of our country,” he
said.
“Number two, we are enjoying support from Sadc and we must
co-operate with Sadc. Number three, we enjoy support from the AU. Again we must
exploit that support from the continent and succeed. Number four, we enjoy
support from other countries other than America.”
President Mnangagwa – who is emerging from victory in the
July 30 harmonised elections – said Zimbabwe would not cry over the illegal
sanctions.
“America is not the only country in the world,” he said.
“There are so many other countries – Brazil, co-operating with the BRICS, we
have China, Russia, and South Africa. We have India. All these countries are
co-operating. Why would we cry?”
When the US and the West imposed illegal sanctions on
Zimbabwe close to two decades ago, they cited violation of human rights,
closure of the democratic space, violence during elections, among things blamed
on the then president, Mr Robert Mugabe’s style of governance.
When he assumed office last November following the
resignation of Mr Mugabe, President Mnangagwa corrected the wrongs by his
predecessor by opening up the democratic space, opening Zimbabwe for
investment, respecting human rights and delivering a historic peaceful, fair,
transparent and credible election on July 30.
The US, however, started processes to impose sanctions well
before the elections and proceeded to effect the embargo last week.
President Mnangagwa’s administration is focused on the
economy by opening Zimbabwe for Foreign Direct Investment.
He has dealt with legislation like the indigenisation law,
which hindered global capital from flowing into Zimbabwe and is upbeat about
economic turnaround.
Also in his interview with the NBC, President Mnangagwa
spoke about Zanu-PF’s victory in the July 30 harmonised elections, his call for
peace, unity among Zimbabweans and economic reforms.
“It is progressive to advocate for peace, advocate for
unity, advocate for love among your own people,” he said. “Fortunately, our
people have responded very well. We have had a very peaceful electoral process,
from the time we proclaimed the elections all political parties participated
very freely.
“As a result of the democratic political space in Zimbabwe,
in the past we used to have four or five political parties, now we have 133
political parties because they are enjoying the space and air of freedom in
Zimbabwe.”
Added President Mnangagwa: “And out of those 133 political
parties, 55 political parties registered to participate in the harmonised
general elections and of those 55 political parties who registered to
participate, 23 registered to contest the Office of the President.
“However, when the counting was done and the results came
out, Zanu-PF had two thirds majority in Parliament. For Zanu-PF we are
extremely comfortable with the two thirds majority.”
President Mnangagwa said he was introducing a new
socio-political and economic culture in Zimbabwe.
“We are introducing reforms – political reforms which I
have mentioned about democratic space – political and social,” he said. “We are
also busy introducing economic reforms in the economic sector by making sure
the easy of doing business, the cost of doing business is improved.
“We must look at ourselves and compare why would global
capital not come to Zimbabwe and come to Namibia? Why would global capital not
come to Zimbabwe and go to South Africa or Zambia? We examine ourselves and say
wherever there is legislation that constrains the flow of global capital in our
own country should be removed like the issue of indigenisation, we have
removed.” Herald
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