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(HERALD) Solidarity is the purest form of investment

Solidarity is the purest form of investment
Monday, 17 October 2011 00:00
Obi Egbuna

On Wednesday October 5, 2011 the Corporate Council on Africa sponsored a forum entitled "Doing Business in Zimbabwe", at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC.
The panelists were Mr Tawanda Gumbo, chairman of the American Business Association of Zimbabwe, Mr Grant Flanagan, chief investment officer of Imara Asset Management, Mr Winston Chitando, Managing Director of Mimosa Mining Company, Mrs Priscilla Mutembwa, Managing Director of Cargill Cotton Zimbabwe and Mr Jeremy Youmans, Group Financial Director of Paramount Group.

Mr Stephen Hayes the President and CEO of CCA, said this was the most anticipated forum of their annual conference, and the conclusion was based on the feedback of all who were in attendance.

The highlight of the forum was the fact that the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Charles Ray and the Zimbabwean Ambassador to the US Dr Machivenyika Mapuranga, appeared on a platform together for the first time. This, in the estimation of those in attendance, was considered a diplomatic milestone.

After Ambassador Ray announced that Zimbabwe was officially opened for business, his statement was received with a thunderous applause.

This uncharacteristic gesture of warmth is only preceded by former US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell's acknowledgement in 2004, that Zimbabwe's efforts to eradicate HIV and Aids in Africa were second to none. This remark was made immediately after Ambassador Mapuranga stated that the issue of lifting US-EU sanctions cannot be ignored by the US and international business community.

The decision to use the five minutes afforded to him by the CCA, to raise the issue of sanctions is a testament to Ambassador Mapuranga's diplomatic skill and expertise.

This also helps keep Ambassador Ray diplomatically honest, since it is yet to be determined whether he and his superior the US Secretary on African Affairs Ambassador Johnnie Carson are publicly playing an old political game commonly referred to as good cop/bad cop on the question of Zimbabwe.

It is only one year since the public confrontation between Ambassador Carson and Ambassador Mapuranga, that took place at the Africa Day celebration, which was initiated by Ambassador Carson who perhaps more than any other member of the Obama administration has trouble hiding his pro-Tsvangirai sentiments and disposition.

One of the most interesting points raised during this discussion was when Mr Hayes made it public that the CCA had recently formed a Zimbabwe working group, and that it was being financed by General Electric.

When it was formed in 1993 CCA stated its mission was to work with Governments, Multilateral Groups and Business to improve Africa's trade and investment climate.

However, like any organisation with an economic focus any political manoeuvring must appear as subtle as possible. The CCA has a programme called Infrastructure and Security and Development initiative, focusing on issues of crime, food and health security, social corporate responsibility and Africom.

While the Zimbabwean delegation did a masterful job dispelling the myths and falsehoods peddled by western media about their economy, it will be interesting to watch if there are any US big business

entities willing to explain to the Obama administration how lifting US-EU sanctions on Zimbabwe is financially rewarding to the US business sector.

They can make use of platforms like the Council of Foreign Relations or the National Democratic Institute, which now has an MOU with Zimbabwe's Parliament.

The first model that comes to mind is in the late 90's when the billionaire Ted Turner, raised the monetary advantages of lifting the US blockade on Cuba, with president Clinton and his cabinet.

Many pundits and experts feel this is what resulted in the US Pentagon, stating that Cuba was no longer a National Security Threat to the United States Government, this of course was sabotaged by the Bush administration immediately placing Cuba on the State Department's list of terrorist countries.

It is no secret that everyday Zimbabweans are happy to learn that the inclusive Government in conjunction with an ambitious and patriotic business sector, has helped resurrect the interest of key business pockets in the West.

This also helps Zimbabwe and Africa realise that defending the country's sovereignty and protecting its image, will be more challenging in the near future, and a casual approach to this task is not an option.

In 2004 the CCA took a delegation of 15 people to Libya. The delegation was led by Mr Hayes and the former US Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris, who was CCA's chair of their Libyan working group.

This trip was carefully planned under the watchful eye of the US State Department. The follow up to this effort was a US-Libya enterprise conference hosted by New Fields Exhibitions, which included major Fortune 500 companies like, General Electric, Shell, Parsons Group International LTD, Foster Wheeler, KBR Limited all, participated in the exchange.

It would be naive and idealistic for Africans to wonder in reflection, why none of these businesspeople did anything, to prevent the US-NATO alliance from slaughtering Libyan women and children, by telling the Obama administration that bombing innocent people is not good for business.

In his Autobiography the Pan African giant and Human Rights champion Dr W E B DuBois in the chapter "My Tenth Decade", described how when Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah visited the US in 1958, that Hershey the nation's largest chocolate manufacturer sent a special plane to take him to their factories.

The follow up to this act of good will was the New York Cocoa Board of Trade, dining him at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, after we has overthrown by the CIA in 1966 one wonders if they sent his family a box of their finest chocolate. The curiosity of US based businesses and investors have about Zimbabwe, appears to be centred on the current programme of indigenisation of foreign businesses. This is how corporate media and dishonest politicians have described Zimbabwe's indigenisation and empowerment efforts, to ensure the human resources are the beneficiaries of the nation's material resources and wealth.

This racist posture asserts Zimbabwe and Africa owe our former colonial and slave masters an apology, for taking measures to ensure that the raping and plundering of our sacred land stops once and for all.

The forum was brought to a standstill when Mr Jeremy Youmans who grew up in New Zealand, told the audience that US-EU sanctions were indeed a hindrance to economic progress in Zimbabwe. It can only be hoped that because of his cultural make-up rumours don't circulate he was threatened by Zanu-PF to make this remark.

The other key point raised from the floor was Zimbabwe rolling out the red carpet, for China to pursue business in the mining sector. This notion was contextualised brilliantly by the former

Zimbabwean Ambassador to China Comrade Christopher Mutsvangwa who stated China's access stems from their willingness to openly engage Zimbabwe instead of attempting to isolate and demonise the country.

It is also important to note that the Mr Hayes recognised a businessman from Chicago Mr Elzie Higginbottom, who sponsored the Zimbabwean Delegation and forum, and is the President/CEO of Eastlake Management & Development Corp which is based in Chicago.

As Africans born and raised in the US celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders, the Zimbabwean business sector who have come to US this year, first the Affirmative Action Group and now the American Business Association Of Zimbabwe are setting a strong and admirable criteria for African businesspeople. It is a simple message that patriotism and unity is extremely profitable.

What this does for Zimbabwe on a Pan African and International scale, is it sends a message loud and clear that we must invest heavily in the fight to lift US-EU sanctions on Zimbabwe.

* Obi Egbuna is the US Correspondent of The Herald and is based in Washington DC.

Labels: SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 6:14 PM