Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Mutambara slams Miliband remarks

COMMENT - It isn't just that the MDC never had a mandate from the Zimbabwean people to put them on economic sanctions, it is that they know very well that they didn't, and instead of addressing why they wanted and collaborated with economic sanctions, they are attacking the messenger, and the timing of his remarks. The truth is that they wanted the economy of Zimbabwe to collapse, that they did everything to make that happen, and that they wanted to blame everything on President Robert Mugabe. Well now the cat is out of the bag publicly. What has been clear to many observers on the left has now become a matter of public record, stated by the supporters and creators of economic sanctions against Zimbabwe. The MDC tried to get to power on the back of the suffering of the Zimbabwean people, and they did so in order to get their grubby neoliberal hands on the riches of the Zimbabwean people. Even now Arthur Mutambara can't stop talking about not scaring away foreign investors.

And another thing. If Arthur Mutambara believes there are only 'targeted sanctions', which he says he wants removed, what is the 'unstrategic thinking' he is accusing David Milibrand of? Telling the truth? Telling the truth at an inopportune time? Or being clear about the MDC involvement in sanctions. And by the way, the economic sanctions against Zimbabwe are a matter of record (see Sec. 4C of ZDERA - the government of Zimbabwe has been under a credit freeze since Jan. 2002).

Mutambara slams Miliband remarks
by
28/01/2010 00:00:00

DEPUTY Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said comments by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband regarding sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are characteristic of the “type of un-strategic” thinking in the West which is undermining the country’s formal opposition.

The UK foreign secretary recently indicated to the House of Commons that European Union sanctions on Zimbabwe would “above all” be lifted on the advice of the MDC.

The remarks have been seized upon by Zanu PF, which blames the sanctions for the country’s economic collapse, and has all along accused the MDC of complicit in their imposition.

The opposition hierarchy is understood to be privately livid with Miliband over the unguarded slip as it battles contain the fall-out.

Speaking in the Swiss ski resort of Davos where he is attending the annual World Economic Forum, Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur Mutambara said Miliband’s statements showed that western leaders would do well if they “speak less and listen more”.

“It’s an example of how Western leaders can be very un-strategic. We know they mean well, we know they support the people of Zimbabwe but when they make such statements they are completely undermining our bargaining power as the formal opposition.

“So it’s very unfortunate and very ignorant for him to stay that. We are saying to these western leaders please can you be strategic for this challenge; can you talk to us before you make these unreasonable and meaningless statements because you are undermining Mr Tsvangirai; you are undermining all of us in this inclusive government,” he said.

Mutambara, who leads the smaller faction of the MDC, reiterated that given the progress the country’s inclusive government has made since coming into office sanctions were “no longer necessary”.

“We want targeted sanctions against the 40 corporations in our country. We want targeted sanctions against individuals to be removed. What we are saying is that, because we as Zimbabweans have made a decision to work together any sanctions don’t make any sense at all.

“It’s a new day in our country. Zimbabweans … are trying to work out an arrangement to create a peaceful, prosperous and democratic country … we want the international community to support our efforts and we do not support any sanctions at all against our own people,” he said.

The MDC-M leader said he was hoping to use his presence at the Forum which brings together more than 2000 global business and political leaders to strengthen Africa’s hand in crafting global solutions to global economic problems as well as plug Zimbabwe as an investment destination.

“We are trying to get investors to come to Zimbabwe. We are saying Zimbabwe is open for business.

“We have opportunities in mining, infrastructure agriculture. We want Zimbabwe to become a globally competitive economy and that won’t be possible without foreign investors and we want a diversified source of foreign investors- China, India, Europe, America, Africa- the more the merrier,” Mutambara said

Meanwhile Prime Minister Tsvangirai, who is also attending the Davos event held a meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Stephen Harper on Wednesday.

Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, MDC, NEOCOLONIALISM, NEOLIBERALISM

posted by MrK @ 7:10 AM