PRESIDENT Emmerson
Mnangagwa’s global re-engagement drive suffered a major setback yesterday after
the United States State Department submitted a damning report for adoption by
the country’s Senate, urging Washington to adopt a cautious approach to
relations with Harare over its highly militarised state and terrible human
rights record.
Presenting his report before the US senate foreign
relations sub-committee on African affairs, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for Africa, Matthew Harrington, trashed Mnangagwa’s reform agenda,
saying it was moving at snail’s pace and had failed to inspire confidence.
The committee is chaired by Senator Jeff Flake. Also
presenting his testimony before the committee, a senior fellow of the Centre
for Global Development, Todd Moss, said Mnangagwa’s government should be
demilitarised.
Harrington raised concern over the deadly violence that rocked
Harare soon after the general elections on July 30, in which the military shot
dead six people.
He also warned the White House against offering economic
support to the country until Zimbabwe effects tangible reforms.
“It is clear that Zimbabwe has a long way to go and
requires profound political and economic reforms to sustainably change the path
on which it has been for nearly four decades. Since taking power last year and
since his election, President Mnangagwa has regularly stated his commitment to
pursuing political and economic reforms, as well as a better relationship with
us.”
“We welcome the change in rhetoric from the Mugabe years.
Since the election, we have seen some promising signs from the government,
including appointment of a new, more technocratic cabinet, announcement of an
economic plan acknowledging the need for significant monetary and fiscal
reform, and a budget which, if implemented, would make important strides in
that direction. So far, however, the pace and scale of reforms has been too
gradual and not nearly ambitious enough. A Zimbabwe that is more capable of
providing for the needs of its own citizens and respecting human rights and
fundamental freedoms will be a more responsible member of the international
community. To reach that end, Zimbabwe will require implementation of
fundamental reforms, not merely a commitment to do so.”
“That is a message we have shared consistently with
Zimbabwean interlocutors, including President Mnangagwa and senior members of
his government. We want Zimbabwe to succeed and would welcome a better
bilateral relationship, but the ball is squarely in the government’s court to
demonstrate it is irrevocably on a different trajectory,” Harrington said.
He added that Zimbabwe needed to take positive steps
towards civil, political and economic reforms if it is to convince the
international community about its re-engagement endeavour.
“There are several steps the government of Zimbabwe could
take that would send a strong signal to its own people and to the international
community that it is serious about taking the country in a new, more positive
direction. First, it should repeal laws such as the Public Order and Security
Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act which have long
been used to suppress the human rights of people in Zimbabwe and which violate
Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution.”
“Second, the government should immediately end the
harassment of members of the political opposition. It should drop charges
against former Finance minister and prominent opposition figure Tendai Biti and
all those who have been arbitrarily detained for exercising their human rights
and fundamental freedoms. Third, government should allow the Commission of
Inquiry to work transparently and independently, and hold perpetrators of the
August 1 violence fully accountable. And fourth, the government should move
quickly to ensure legislation is consistent with the 2013 constitution, as well
as uphold its letter and spirit,” he said.
Harrington, however, said these proposed steps did by
themselves not mean Zimbabwe will automatically be considered as a reformed state,
adding that the US State Department would continue monitoring the situation.
“These four actions won’t by themselves transform Zimbabwe, but would
constitute significant steps in the right direction. We will continue to
consult closely with Congress on our approach toward Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe
Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, recently updated by Congress, has provided
a very important tool and clearly identified the reforms we expect: restoration
of the rule of law, a commitment to equitable, legal and transparent land
reform, and ensuring that military and national police forces are subordinate
to the civilian government. Zimbabwe that is genuinely accountable to its
citizens and responsive to their needs.” Zimbabwe Independent
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