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(HERALD) VP Mujuru meets British, German ambassadors

VP Mujuru meets British, German ambassadors
Friday, 30 September 2011 02:00
Herald Reporters

VICE President Joice Mujuru yesterday met the new British and Germany ambassadors to Zimbabwe Deborah Bronnert and Hans Gnodtke and expressed displeasure over their failure to lift the illegal sanctions they imposed on the country. United Nations resident co-ordinator, Mr Alain Noudehou, also met VP Mujuru and commended Government's commitment to complete the constitution-making process.

Speaking to journalists after meeting VP Mujuru at her Munhumutapa Offices, the two envoys confirmed her "grave" concern over the maintenance of the sanctions. Although VP Mujuru told the two diplomats that illegal sanctions were hurting Zimbabwe, Ambassador Bronnert indicated that London was not yet ready to entirely lift them.

She said her government this year reviewed the illegal sanctions and would continue to do so basing on what she termed "progress on the implementation of the Global Political Agreement".

"Of course the VP raised that and the position of our government remains that we will continue to review the restrictive measures.

"We reviewed them this year and we hope to continue to review them, depending on the progress made on the implementation of the GPA," she said.

Ambassador Bronnert said she also discussed with VP Mujuru trade relations between Harare and London.

She said trade between the two countries increased about 85 percent this year.
Ambassador Bronnert said Britain was also ready to work with any party that won free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.

"We also talked about my Prime Minister's call that there should be free and fair elections in Zimbabwe and his concern on the implementation of the GPA and the election roadmap.

"He (David Cameroon) said UK will work with any party that wins free and fair elections, whether it is Zanu-PF or MDC-T," she said.

She said Britain was working to improve the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans and this year London availed US$130 million to that end.

The money was channelled through Western controlled non-governmental organisations.

Ambassador Gnodtke said VP Mujuru spoke her mind on why Germany maintained the sanctions against Zimbabwe.

"I had the opportunity to have a frank discussions with the Vice President.
"We discussed political reforms here, Zimbabwe-Germany relations and I promised to work on them.

"She was, however, not happy with the sanctions, which we prefer to call restrictive measures.

"I explained the position of the EU and that there was need for free and fair elections in the country and that the parties should respect the outcome of the elections," he said.

He said the removal of the sanctions remained a collective decision by the EU council of ministers.

Mr Noudehou briefed VP Mujuru on the upcoming RIO+20 conference on environment and sustainable development.

He said he raised a number of areas the UN wanted to work with Zimbabwe for the benefit of the people.

He emphasised that development takes place in a peaceful environment.

Labels: AMBASSADOR, JOICE MUJURU, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 5:43 PM