EDITORIAL COMMENT:The EU must now lift economic sanctions on Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa welcomes EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen

Government has implemented a number of reforms meant to benefit the country’s citizens. This has seen among other reforms, the expansion of the democratic space in the country as enshrined in the Constitution. 

Individuals and civil society groups are now openly expressing themselves and international organisations such as the European Union (EU) have also acknowledged that Zimbabwe has made some progress towards the attainment of political and economic reforms. 

Speaking after meeting President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare on Thursday, 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 (POSA) were some of the positive steps Government has taken. 

The Staff Monitored Programme announced at the beginning of this 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 Stabilisation Programme (TSP) include 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 the 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 (POSA) and is working on other Bills to replace the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). 

Ambassador Olkkonen said the EU  was very supportive of the processes and was even financially supporting parts of that agenda. We want at this juncture to call upon the EU to go a step further and lift sanctions on Zimbabwe.  The Southern African Development Community and other progressive forces have already called upon the international community to unconditionally lift all sanctions imposed on the country. 

It is the EU which has confirmed that the country has made significant progress towards attainment of political and economic reforms and there is therefore no justification to continue punishing the people of Zimbabwe by maintaining the sanctions.  

The Second Republic has adopted a policy of re-engagement which should be supported by the international community. It is a fact that Zimbabwe like any other country cannot operate a modern economy without accessing lines of credit hence the need to lift all embargoes against the country.

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