(NEWZIMBABWE, AFP) Envoy summoned over minister’s treatment
08/10/2013 00:00:00
by AFP
ZIMBABWE said on Tuesday that it had summoned the American ambassador in Harare over the frisking of foreign minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi on a recent trip to the United States. Mumbengegwi was asked to go through security checks at New York's JFK airport, in an apparent denial of diplomatic privilege.
Permanent secretary Joey Bimha said ministry officials had on Monday met the US ambassador, Bruce Wharton, following the airport incident.
“I confirm we met the ambassador (on Monday),” Bimha told AFP.
“He has since apologised and said he is going to find out what happened.”
Mumbengegwi was returning home after attending the UN General Assembly as part of the entourage accompanying President Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe's relations with the US are strained after Washington imposed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe following elections in 2002, which Western observers said were rigged to hand Mugabe victory.
The sanctions include travel restrictions on Mugabe and members of his inner circle and a freeze of assets belonging to Mugabe's allies or entities with links to him and his ruling Zanu-PF party.
In 2005, Zimbabwe threatened to expel the then-ambassador Christopher Dell for allegedly interfering in its political affairs.
Dell was also reprimanded for entering a restricted area of the National Botanical Gardens in Harare.
The US rejected the results of the last July elections which extended Mugabe's 33-year rule on grounds that the polls were not credible.
The results were also disputed by Mugabe's main rival Morgan Tsvangirai as “a massive fraud”.
Labels: AMBASSADOR, JOEY BIMHA, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Sanctions: Zimbabwe ends West engagement
05/10/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZIMBABWE will not engage in any further lobbying to have Western sanctions on the country lifted, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said on Saturday.
Zimbabwe is unhappy with the “intransigence and lack of objectivity” shown by Western countries led by former colonial power Britain in the wake of the July 31 elections which swept President Robert Mugabe back into power, the minister said.
“Any country that does not want to accept the will of the people of Zimbabwe, that’s their own business. I am saying it clearly that there is nothing more to negotiate with them,” Mumbengegwi told the official Herald newspaper.
“It’s not Zimbabwe which should re-engage the West, but it is the West that should re-engage Zimbabwe. We are not going to engage them anymore because it is them who unilaterally imposed sanctions on us and they should first unilaterally lift them.
“What we are demanding first is the unconditional lifting of sanctions. We will not negotiate with them over sanctions because we never negotiated with them to impose the sanctions in the first place.”
The minister said Zimbabwe’s elections – approved by the African Union and SADC but criticised by Western countries whose observers were barred from taking part – had been “free, fair, and the most credible you will ever find in the whole world.”
“We came almost close to perfection,” Mumbengegwi said. “We never put a foot wrong in the conduct of those elections and it is strange that the West who were never part of the observers afterwards said the elections were not free and fair.
“This shows that the West is not objective when it comes to Zimbabwe, especially when dealing with the country’s biggest political party Zanu PF.
“How could they say the elections were not free and fair when they did not observe them? Why not go by what observers from Africa and beyond said of the elections-that they were free and fair?”
In his inauguration speech after his crushing election win, Mugabe said Zimbabwe was “an open, friendly country”, adding: “We seek friendship across geographies, across cultures, and quite often against past wrongs. We seek partnerships with all nations of goodwill, but partnerships based on sovereign, equality and mutual respect.”
He added: “As of those odd Western countries who happen to hold a different, negative view of our electoral process and outcome, well, there is not much we can do about them. We dismiss them as the vile ones whose moral turpitude we must mourn.
“They are entitled to their views, for as long as they recognise the majority of our people endorsed the electoral outcome, indeed for as long as they recognise that no Zimbabwean law was offended against. And for us that is all that matters. After all, Zimbabwean elections are meant for Zimbabwe’s voting citizens.
“Having struggled for our independence, our fate has irrevocably orbited out of colonial relations, indeed can no longer subsist in curtsying and bowing to any foreign government, however powerful it feigns itself to be and whatever filthy lucre it flaunts.
“We belong to Africa. We follow African values here. We follow our conscience. We abide by the judgment of Africa as indeed, we did in 2008 when Africa advised us to set aside results of the disputed elections.
“Today it is Britain, and her dominions of Australia and Canada who dare tell us our elections were not fair and credible. Today it is America and her illegal sanctions which dare raise a censorious voice over our affairs. Yes, today it is these Anglo-Saxons who dare contradict Africa’s verdict over an election in Zimbabwe, an African country. Who are they, we ask? Who gave the gift of seeing better than all of us?”
Labels: SANCTIONS, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, ZDERA
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Japan keen to restore Zim ties
Saturday, 25 August 2012 00:00
Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
JAPAN is keen to restore its relations with Zimbabwe that had slumped over the past 10 years after the Western imposed illegal sanctions on Harare. A Japanese business delegation led by Vice Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Toshiyuki Kato, met Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Youth Development, Indeginisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere on Thursday.
The meetings were aimed at exploring how business relations could be restored.
In his opening remarks, Minister Mumbengegwi said although Japan had not imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe, its conduct was not in any way different from what the West had done on Harare.
“We have been wondering whether Japan had made undeclared sanctions on Zimbabwe. With your visit it shows that Japan is ready to do business with us . . . we want to restore relations with Japan to the level in which it was during the first 20 years of independence before we embarked on our land reform programme when sanctions were imposed,” said Minister Mumbengegwi.
He said the two countries used to enjoy good bilateral relations during the first 20 years.
Mr Kato said his country was keen to work together with Zimbabwe.
“Now it is time to work together and see what opportunities there are for us. I really appreciate that we discuss areas where we can co-operate,” said Mr Kato speaking through an interpreter.
During their meeting with Minister Kasukuwere, the business delegation sought to understand the indigenisation regulations and how they impacted on foreigners.
Minister Kasukuwere explained that there had been a lot of distortions about the Government’s legal position on the matter by some sections of the media.
“There has been deliberate distortion on the policy to paint this policy in bad light. There is no country that can develop when its citizens are outside the mainstream of the economy,” said Minister Kasukuwere.
He said it was critical to have an inclusive economy where indigenous persons participate in the investment activities of their country.
“It is not a law that takes away what you would have brought to Zimbabwe. No. This law is not punitive but encourages Zimbabweans to be in entrepreneurship,” he said.
The business delegation comprised mining, energy, communications, and Toyota motor industry among others.
Labels: JAPAN, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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Zimbabwe sanctions: Zanu-PF slams EU’s ‘cheap propaganda’ and ‘arrogance’
This article was written by Our reporter on 25 July, at 02 : 33 AM
The Zimbabwean Government has dismissed as a non-event the European Union extension of Zimbabwe sanctions by another year. Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi told journalists in Harare yesterday that Government wanted the EU to unconditionally lift the embargo.
He added that the Western bloc is trying to hoodwink the public with its ‘cheap propaganda’ by saying they will ease some of the measures, while in fact they are extending them.
Mumbengegwi also added that the EU does not have the mandate to supervise implementation of the Global Political Agreement signed by President Mugabe and the MDC leaders as a precondition to lift the sanctions.
Minister Mumbengegwi said the GPA was an internal document that has nothing to do with the EU.
“In May, we sent a three-member delegation of the ministerial re-engagement committee which represented all the parties in Government to Brussels at the invitation of Lady (Catherine) Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
“The delegation carried a clear message that Zimbabwe was demanding an immediate and unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
“Yesterday (Monday), the EU issued a statement in which they demonstrated that either they did not listen to the demand of our delegation or they did not understand.
“But whatever the case, their statement is just a demonstration of the EU’s arrogance. As we all know, the GPA is an agreement among Zimbabwean parties and the EU is not part of that agreement.
“Now they have arrogated themselves the role of supervising the agreement which they are not party to.
“They have no power or responsibility to supervise our GPA. That is the height of arrogance which is not acceptable,” he said.
Minister Mumbengegwi said anything short of an unconditional lifting of the embargo was not acceptable to Zimbabwe.
He said the sanctions were imposed unilaterally and Zimbabwe stood by its position demanding unconditional lifting of the sanctions.
Minister Mumbengegwi said the EU sanctions were illegal and had received worldwide condemnation from all progressive forces such as the African Union, Sadc, the Non-Aligned Movement and Comesa.
He said more than two million Zimbabweans also made a strong case against the sanctions after signing Anti Sanctions Petition forms in 2010.
“They (sanctions) are illegal in terms of the African Caribbean Pacific and the EU statutes themselves …”
The minister said as long as one person or one company remains on sanctions, Zimbabwe would not be satisfied.
Minister Mumbengegwi said the European bloc was playing cheap propaganda tactics by claiming that it had suspended part of the sanctions regime.
“What is suspension? It is either they are there or they are removed. How can you suspend something which is not there? This is cheap propaganda to try and deceive the people of Zimbabwe and the international community.
“The statement by the EU is totally irrelevant and meaningless,” he said.
“All we did was repossessing our land. Anyone who says that is an offence then obviously they are colonialists and there is no room for colonialists in independent Zimbabwe,” he said.
Minister Mumbengegwi said the fight against sanctions was a continuation of the liberation struggle that Zimbabwe was destined to win.
Former president of the Zimbabwe Union for Democrats Mrs Margaret Dongo said the EU was violating Zimbabweans’ human rights.
“The extension of the sanctions does not make any sense. We have the inclusive Government and the sanctions should have been removed from the first day we entered into the inclusive Government for it to work.
“The EU is not seeing the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans here and there is a lot of hypocrisy surrounding this whole issue.”
She called PM Tsvangirai and his party to lead the call for the lifting of the sanctions as they called for the embargo.
Political analyst Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa condemned the sanctions extension.
He said: “The EU sanctions are an unleashed arrow that is getting even weaker as they search for an elusive target. Ten years ago the original aim was to avert or overthrow national liberation movements and install a puppet neo-colony and reverse land reform.
“Now their purpose change at each new EU meeting as they wither in the face of Zimbabwe’s resilience.”
He said the EU meetings have turned into confusion and cross purpose.
“Terms of debate changed to how we remove them, not how to make them (sanctions) more potent. Confusion is now a new order among EU allies.
“Meanwhile, they lose business opportunities like Marange and Zisco to China, India and other BRICS countries.”
He said the land reforms were permanent and irreversible.
“This EU soft power punch has landed on hard Zimbabwe ground.”
The Herald/TZG
Labels: EU, GLOBAL POLITICAL AGREEMENT, SANCTIONS, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, ZDERA
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Zim minister in coup crossfire
Saturday, 24 March 2012 00:00
Sydney Kawadza Assistant News Editor
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and his two-man delegation have been caught in the political upheaval in Bamako, Mali, following a military coup in the West African country.
The minister and his delegation cannot fly out because the mutineers have closed the airport and sealed borders. Minister Mumbengegwi was attending an African Union Peace and Security meeting on the Sahel region.
The region has been experiencing political and security disturbances, he-nce the meeting.
Zimbabwe is a member of the AU Peace and Security committee.
Countries in that region include Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity Mr George Charamba yesterday confirmed the Zimbabwean delegation was stranded, but safe.
“The minister touched base and indicated that they are safe. The delegation cannot travel out of Mali as authorities have sealed the borders and closed the airport.”
Mr Charamba said Minister Mumbengegwi and his delegation, who were expected back home yesterday, will be back next week.
“The situation is expected to become normal in the coming days and we ex-pect Minister Mumbengegwi to arrive back home early next week,” he said.
A Malian junta announced on Thur-sday the closure of the country’s borders, claiming to have seized power from President Amadou Toumani Toure. The coup came just a month before President Toure was due to step down ahead of April elections after serving two presidential terms.
He was not a candidate.
Under his leadership, Mali — which has battled successive Tuareg rebellions since independence and more recently Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb activities — has since been hailed as a growing democracy in the region.
African countries have condemned the coup.
The African Union Commission chief Jean Ping urged “the mutineers immediately to put an end” to the country’s first coup in 21 years.
Labels: SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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President meets Zambia’s Sata
Saturday, 03 December 2011 21:30
From Farai Dzirutwe in LIVINGSTONE, Zambia
President Mugabe and his Zambian counterpart, Mr Michael Sata, yesterday held their first meeting since the latter was sworn into office in September with the two leaders discussing various issues of mutual interest.
The two-hour meeting was held at the Royal Livingstone resort in the southern border town but details on the deliberations were not immediately available yesterday as the two leaders did not have a post-meeting media briefing.
The meeting came a day after Mr Sata hosted a luncheon for former United States president Mr George W. Bush and his wife who were in Lusaka to launch a campaign to fight cancer.
Foreign Affairs Minister Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, who attended the meeting, could not divulge details but said the engagement had been very congenial.
“It was basically a bilateral exchange of views which also happened to be the two leaders’ first meeting since Mr Sata took over as president.
“It was a very good meeting where the leaders discussed a number of issues of mutual interest but I cannot go into detail,” said Cde Mumbengegwi.
He, however, revealed that Mr Sata had confirmed that he would be represented at the highest level during the Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference which kicks off in Bulawayo this week.
Before meeting Mr Sata, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces had addressed delegates to the Zimbabwe Local Government Association (Zilga) annual conference held across the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls.
Zilga is the representative body of all the country’s local authorities and came into existence in February 2010 following the merger of the then Urban Councils’ Association of Zimbabwe (Ucaz) and the Association of Rural District Councils (ARDC).
In his speech, Cde Mugabe urged local government leaders in both urban and rural areas to prioritise service delivery to the people who voted them into office instead of expending their energy fighting for personal benefits and allowances.
“I am not saying councillors should not get appropriate allowances; far from it. They should, however, strive to ensure that they provide good service to citizens,” said Cde Mugabe.
He bemoaned the poor service delivery in the country’s urban centres, particularly Harare and Chitungwiza, adding that despite limited resources, Bulawayo appeared to be better managed than the capital city.
“Zvino kana tichiona mabin ane mirwi ne- mirwi yemarara tsvina yave kuita makomo kumisika vekanzuru vanenge vakamirira kuti Hurumende iuye kuzotakura marara? Zvinonyadzisa. (When we see mounds of garbage forming little mountains at market places, will the local authorities be waiting for central Government to collect the refuse? It is shameful.)
“We want clean cities. Bulawayo is much cleaner and better organised than Harare. I recently visited Chitungwiza when some Chinese eye specialists came in and there was garbage and potholes everywhere. This does not attract tourists.
"Don't kill our cities, please. Don't kill our country," said Cde Mugabe.
He urged city councils to draw lessons on good urban planning from places such as Singapore, Malaysia and China, adding that there was a need to put effort into beautifying the country's cities by upgrading infrastructure and planting trees.
"I wonder if the local government people in Harare have ever thought of planting trees to beautify the city. The trees we have, the jacarandas, were planted by settlers. If you go east to places like Singapore, Malaysia and China, there is careful urban planning," said Cde Mugabe.
He said the Zilga conference always afforded him the opportunity to interact with the local government fratenity, adding that it also provided a platform for various partners, including Government ministries and departments, to engage in healthy and lively interaction.
"Government therefore appreciates the key ‘enabler role' that the local government sector plays in national development by providing trunk infrastructure such as roads, health centres, water and sanitation facilities.
"In addition to facilitating activities of other sectors, local authorities are expected to assist Central Government translate the national vision into concrete deliverables to our people.
"It is therefore critical that local authority programmes, as informed by the Millennium Development Goals and guided by Central Government, should always seek to address development challenges such as poverty, gender inequality, hunger and disease," said Cde Mugabe.
Cde Mugabe said Zimbabwe had posted commendable achievements in various spheres in the first two decades of independence particularly in education, health, sanitation, food security and rural development.
These development gains had, however, been suddenly reversed following the imposition of illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe by Western countries who were protesting against the successful Land Reform Programme.
He said contrary to assertions in the Western and local private media that the sanctions targeted only him and other senior Government officials, they had actually brought untold suffering to the vulnerable segments of the population.
"While the local government sector has not been spared of the crippling impact of the sanctions, to our credit and to the annoyance of our detractors, the sanctions have not broken our resolve and determination to continue our thunderous and revolutionary march towards the realisation of the cardinal goals of the liberation struggle."
Apart from land reforms, the other critical goal of the struggle was to economically empower the majority black population which had been marginalised in colonial days. Cde Mugabe said the Government had embarked on a robust indigenisation drive that was meant to empower people through the Community Share Ownership Trusts scheme.
This would lead to communities deriving optimum benefits from the exploitation of natural resources found within their respective areas.
Cde Mugabe said the indigenisation drive was neither a joke nor an election gimmick as claimed in some sections of the media.
"They think we are that idiotic. We have got the land in the hands of our people and we now want the economy in the hands of our people. Hazvisi zvemahumbwe izvi (This is not child's play)," said Cde Mugabe.
He called on the country's citizens to unite behind the goal of developing the nation and urged supporters of the different political parties to desist from violence.
"Let us work, all of us, for a Zimbabwe which we all can enjoy from Plumtree right up to Mutare and Chipinge. Let us be true owners of our country."
The Zilga conference was also attended by Cabinet ministers Ignatius Chombo, Saviour Kasukuwere, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, provincial governors and guests from Ghana, Togo and Botswana.
The Masvingo Mayor, Alderman Femias Chakabuda, presented Cde Mugabe with a gift - a wooden carved kudu - on behalf of Zilga.
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, ROBERT MUGABE, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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Zambia’s Sata says no to Zanu PF
03/12/2011 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZAMBIA President, Michael Sata will not attend Zanu PF’s national conference starting in Bulawayo on Wednesday, it has emerged. Sata, elected Zambia President in September, was expected to be the high profile guest at the conference which will, among other things, endorse President Robert Mugabe as Zanu PF’s candidate for polls due early next year.
However, Sata confirmed he would not attend the conference during a meeting held Saturday with Mugabe on the Zambia side of the Victoria Falls resort. Foreign Affairs Minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said Sata would now be represented at the ‘highest level’.
“It was basically a bilateral exchange of views which also happened to be the two leaders’ first meeting since Sata took over as President,” Mumbengegwi said of Saturday’s meeting.
“It was a very good meeting where the leaders discussed a number of issues of mutual interest but I cannot go into detail.”
Meanwhile, Zanu PF national commissar and information Minister, Webster Shamu said the four-day event would confirm Mugabe as the party’s candidate for next year’s elections.
“We are going to reaffirm the position of our last congress in Mutare where President Mugabe was confirmed as the party’s sole candidate in any election between the last congress and the next,” Shamu said.
“The provinces have since affirmed that position at their respective inter-district meetings and we intend to focus our debate on other pressing matters such as indigenisation.”
Party chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo said the conference would also launch preparations for the elections demanded by Mugabe to replace the coalition government.
“We will chart methods on how to move fast in mobilising everyone with particular focus on young and female voters. This is a very key constituency that should be given the utmost priority,” Moyo said.
“We are not only interested in their vote, but also to have them play a significant part in the country’s economy through our programmes such as the Land Reform Exercise and indigenisation.”
Some 6000 delegates are expected to attend the conference, party officials said.
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, SIMON KHAYA MOYO, ZANU-PF
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Zim legal team ready to face EU, says AG
Friday, 28 October 2011 00:00
Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
A TEAM of lawyers is expected to leave for Brussels, Belgium, next week to file a lawsuit against the European Union for imposing illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe. Attorney-General Mr Johannes Tomana yesterday said the team had finished compiling the court papers and was awaiting visas.
The papers will be filed at the General Court of the European Court of Justice. On arrival in Brussels, Mr Tomana said, the team will brief the EU council on its mission before filing the suit.
"What I can tell you is that we are done with the paperwork and what is only left is to get the necessary travel documents to Europe," said Mr Tomana.
"We do not know how long will this process take, but within a week we expect to have received our invitations and visas to enable us to travel to Europe.
"After arriving in Europe, we will brief the EU Council after which we will file our court papers."
Mr Tomana refused to name lawyers in the team, but authoritative sources said it was made up of experienced attorneys drawn from Zimbabwe, the region and abroad.
Asked about details in the court papers Mr Tomana said: "The document is not yet in the public domain and people should wait until we file it after which it will then become a public document."
However, The Herald is reliably informed that Zimbabwe contends that the imposition and continued existence of the embargo was a travesty of international law since the United Nations did not approve of them.
"The basis of this lawsuit is clear that the sanctions were imposed outside the United Nations, hence making them illegal.
"We cannot have a situation where a certain regional bloc is allowed to abuse the UN Charter in that manner," said one source.
In a letter to the EU in September, Mr Tomana exposed the bloc's glaring blunders on arriving at the imposition of the sanctions.
The AG said the EU did not communicate its decision to people and companies on the sanctions list as required by Article (2) of the Council Decision.
Some of the companies on the sanctions list include Agribank, Jongwe Printers and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation.
The 27-member bloc imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe in retaliation to the fast-track land reform programme initiated by Government in 2000.
The land reform programme was a noble initiative aimed at addressing colonial land ownership imbalances and has seen more than 4 million people being resettled on land previously controlled by less than 5 000 whites.
China and Russia vetoed Britain and its western allies' bid to have the UN Security Council legalise the sanctions.
The decade-long sanctions have destroyed Zimbabwe's economy with most companies shutting down while others are now operating below capacity.
After the formation of the inclusive Government in 2009, Zimbabwe set a re-engagement committee led by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi to explore ways of normalising relations.
Little progress has been made to date since the EU had not shown serious commitment to the dialogue.
Labels: EU, JOHANNES TOMANA, SANCTIONS, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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Call for UN Security Council reform
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 00:00
Herald Reporters
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi yesterday called for the urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council to make it more democratic and accountable to the 194 member states that constitute the UN General Assembly.
Speaking at the 66th anniversary of the United Nations, Minister Mumbengegwi said Zimbabwe, Africa and the rest of the developing world were clamouring for reform of the UN system.
"The loudest calls are for the reform of the UN Security Council. The UN Charter provides it with the important role of maintaining international peace and security. Its decisions under Chapter V11 of the charter are binding on all UN member states. Yet its composition and methods of work are extremely opaque and undemocratic," he said.
Minister Mumbengegwi said although Africa was the largest single group at the United Nations, it had no representation among the veto power-wielding members of the UN Security Council. On the contrary a number of small countries in Europe wielded the veto power in the Security Council, he said.
"There is absolutely no justification for this injustice. We have noted with great concern how these same countries have consistently abused this important institution to settle bilateral political scores, which have no bearing whatsoever to international peace and security," Minister Mumbengegwi said.
He said the Libyan situation represented another gross abuse of the UN Security Council. Resolution 1973 was passed to protect civilians but in the hands of Nato and the Western powers, it was turned into an instrument of brutal destruction of lives, property and infrastructure, he said.
Minister Mumbengegwi said the past nine months had witnessed the systematic conquest of Libya by Nato, culminating in their capture and brutal extra judicial killing of the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi last week.
"The same fate befell his children, colleagues and many Libyans in total violation of international law as provided for under the various statutes of the UN," he said.
Additionally, Minister Mumbengegwi said regime change was never provided for in the UN Security Council Resolution 1973.
"The past nine months have demonstrated how a few countries with their air force in the air and their special forces on the ground can easily treat the Security Council and its resolutions with utter contempt and render that important organ of the UN totally impotent.
"Although other important members of the Security Council protested at the abuse of UNSC Resolution 1973, they could do nothing to stop the abuse since any effort to do so would have been vetoed by those in Nato who wield the veto power.
"Remember Iraq? What has happened in Libya must stand as an example to all members of the UN that Chapter V11 resolutions must never be loosely worded to allow a group of greedy countries to destroy member state for their selfish ends," he said.
Minister Mumbengegwi also criticised the dubious methods used by the Western countries to secure the nine votes required to impose Chapter V11 sanctions on Zimbabwe. He, however, thanked China and Russia for their principled stand in casting their double veto to stop a possible catastrophe in Zimbabwe.
Minister Mumbengegwi thanked the UN and its various agencies for carrying out various developmental projects in the country.
He said the UNDP and other UN agencies would always do well since they respected the sovereignty of the countries they operated in.
UN Day is celebrated on the 24th of October every year.
The global theme for this year's celebration is "UN Works for You" and the particular theme for Zimbabwe is "Sustainable Development Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals".
Labels: SECURITY COUNCIL, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, UN
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Don't be misled - Govt
Thursday, 16 June 2011 02:00
By Tendai Mugabe
THE Extraordinary Sadc Summit held in South Africa at the weekend did not endorse the outcome of the disputed Livingstone Troika meeting, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, has said.
The two MDC formations and some sections of
the private media have been trying to mislead the nation by claiming that the summit endorsed the Livingstone, Zambia, Troika report.
Speaking to journalists after briefing ambassadors of Non Aligned Movement member-states, Sadc, Russia and China on the outcome of the Sadc summit at his Munhumutapa offices yesterday, Minister
Mumbengegwi emphasised that the Livingstone report was only noted since it was based on one report done by MDC-T.
"We have just returned from the Sadc extraordinary summit, which discussed the situation in Zimbabwe and Madagascar.
"We thought it was important to brief African and Non Aligned Movement diplomats on the outcome of the summit.
"We realised that going by what various media houses are saying is very difficult for someone who was not there to decipher what actually transpired.
"We briefed them on the deliberations on the question of the Livingstone Troika Summit where the summit decided to take note of that report and not to endorse it.
"We did indicate that the summit at Sandton went on extremely well.
"The facilitator gave an excellent report giving details of the work done by our negotiators and the facilitation team," he said.
Minister Mumbengegwi's remarks put to rest confusion that was being created by other parties following the Sandton Su-mmit.
He said South African President Jacob Zuma's report focused on the evaluation and assessment done on the GPA, particularly on the need to expedite the process leading to fresh elections.
Minister Mumbengegwi said another document that was tabled before the summit was a report from a delegation of senior members from the Sadc member-states that went to Europe to lobby for the removal of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.
He said the team returned empty-handed after European capitals insisted that there was still no sufficient progress on the implementation of the GPA that warrants the lifting of the embargo.
This, he said, was despite the fact that major progress was made on implementing the GPA with the only sticking issue being the removal of the illegal sanctions.
"The summit also received a report from senior officials who visited Brussels as Sadc representatives have been sent by Sadc to ask those countries to lift the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
"Of course, they did not bring much because the three capitals - Washington, London and Brussels - simply indicated that they were not in a position to lift the sanctions claiming that insufficient prog-ress has been made in the implementation of the GPA.
"But anyone who is familiar with the GPA knows that virtually all the important matters in the GPA have now been achie- ved.
"The only outstanding issue is the writing of the new constitution, which is work in progress, and the question of sanctions," he said.
Minister Mumbengegwi indicated that the completion of the new constitution was the only barometer that could measure as to when elections would be held.
Labels: SADC, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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SADC summit: Zanu PF claims victory
by Staff Reporter
13/06/2011 00:00:00
ZANU PF claimed victory last night after Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders appeared to put the resolutions of a March summit of the regional body’s organ on politics and defence on the backburner.
A communiqué issued at the end of a full summit of the regional trade bloc in Johannesburg late Sunday said leaders had “noted” the Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security communiqué issued in Livingstone, Zambia, on March 31, but it did not endorse it.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, a senior member of President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party, said: “The summit went on very, very well. It only noted the outcome of Livingstone, they did not endorse, summit noted.
“And as you know in diplomatic parlance, you know what ‘noting' means? It was noted, it was not endorsed.”
But the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) led by Prime Minister Morgan insisted the picture of what transpired in Sandton was not as rosy as painted by Zanu PF.
“It was a re-endorsement of the Livingstone Summit,” said the party’s secretary general Tendai Biti. “Three members of the Troika will work with the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee to ensure implementation of the resolutions.”
Mugabe, who reacted angrily at the tone of the communiqué issued by the presidents of Zambia, Mozambique and Namibia – apparently taking their cue from South Africa’s Jacob Zuma who is the region’s point man on Zimbabwe – also appeared pleased with the outcome over the weekend summit.
In April, he charged that Zuma’s report presented to the troika was based on “inaccuracies” which he had been fed by his main political rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
But having met Zuma on Friday, Mugabe appeared pleased to return from South Africa seemingly unscathed.
“It came out very well. There was a very good report by the facilitator (President Jacob Zuma) where he acknowledged the efforts that the parties in the unity government are making, in other words what our negotiators and the principals put together are making,” Mugabe told state media as he returned home.
Mugabe said SADC leaders had urged the parties to come up with timelines of achieving targets set down in a so-called election roadmap.
And he appeared to absolve Zuma of being the driver behind the Livingstone summit communiqué widely reported as critical of him, particularly over alleged violence by his supporters.
“It turns out that Zuma’s actual report is very innocent,” Mugabe said. “It is more what was discussed (during the summit) based on the document supplied by Tsvangirai, apparently, that emerged as the report of the facilitator, otherwise the facilitator made a very innocent report.”
Welshman Ncube, who leads another faction of the MDC which is in a coalition with Mugabe’s Zanu PF and Tsvangirai’s MDC-T, said media expectations of “fireworks” at the summit were misplaced.
“We always knew it would not be the fireworks anticipated by some because for most issues, we knew the parties had already agreed,” Ncube said.
“The task at hand has been for us about implementation of what has been already agreed not reinventing the wheel. Our hope is that there will be a clear focus on the implementation on what has been agreed. Overall we are satisfied with the results of the summit.”
In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, regional leaders endorsed a report by Zuma; a review conducted by the three parties on the two-year-old power sharing government as well as the election roadmap.
SADC leaders want the Zimbabwean parties to draw up timelines for implementing the roadmap before the next summit in August – which could be the first time a concrete date is revealed for the next elections which many expect to be held next year.
Labels: JACOB ZUMA, ROBERT MUGABE, SADC, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, SUMMIT, TENDAI BITI, WELSHMAN NCUBE, ZANU-PF
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Sadc rejects Livingstone doc
Sunday, 12 June 2011 23:06
From Caesar Zvayi in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
THE Extraordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government ended here last night with the full summit rejecting the outcome of the controversial Livingstone Troika Summit that was fraught with procedural irregularities. The three-member Troika is an organ of summit and reports to the full 14-member summit which can either endorse or reject the recommendations the Troika makes.
Since the Livingstone Troika Summit, the full Sadc Su-mmit had not convened to receive the report since Zimbabwe was deferred from the agenda of the extraordinary Summit held in Windhoek, Namibia, last month after
President Mugabe said he did not want to ambush other principals who had not been invited to Windhoek since the summit was for Heads of State and/or Government per se.
Speaking to journalists after arrival at the Harare International Airport this morning, President Mugabe described the extraordinary summit's outcome as very good.
‘‘It came out very well. There was a very good report by the facilitator (President Jacob Zuma) where he acknowledged the efforts that the GPA is making, in other words what our negotiators and the principals put together are making and that there is progress now, that there is work going on to establish the roadmap, that the highlights of the roadmap have been marked that what remains now are the timelines,'' he said.
Turning to the Livingstone Troika debacle, the President absolved his South African counterpart of any wrongdoing saying the President Zuma had presented a report of what transpired, but basing on the MDC-T document.
‘‘It turns out that his actual report is very innocent. It is more what was discussed based on the document yaTsvangirai, apparently, that emerged as the report ya facilitator otherwise the facilitator made a very innocent report. You will get it if you look for it,'' the President said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi des-cribed the Sandton Summit outcome as very good.
‘‘The Summit went on very well, very, very well. Summit only noted the outcome of Livingstone, they did not endorse, Summit noted. And as you know in diplomatic parlance, you know what ‘noting' means? It was noted, it was not endor-sed,'' he said.
The Livingstone Troika Report was one of two documents that were presented to summit. The other one being the Report on the Outcome of the Sadc Emissaries to the EU and US where they had been sent by the region to lobby for the lifting of the West's illegal economic sanctions regime.
The westerners are reported to have told the Sadc emissaries that there was no agreement on sanctions in Zimbabwe hence they would not lift the sanctions, and Summit was yesterday told that MDC-T was Nichodemously urging westerners to maintain the sanctions regime in flagrant violation of the GPA that says sanctions must go in their entirety.
‘‘Summit reiterated its position on the sanctions and called upon all the parties in Zimbabwe to unequivocally campaign for the lifting of sanctions. Summit also called on the parties to work on the elections roadmap.''
Sadc leaders first called for the lifting of the illegal economic sanctions regime at their extra-ordinary summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on March 31, 2007 and pledged to help Zimbabwe fight the illegal embargo. A team of emissaries was then set up at another extra-ordinary Summit held in Mbabane, Swaziland on March 31, 2009 where member states also pledged a rescue package to help Zimbabwe fight the debilitating sanctions.
Though Zanu-PF has been quite vocal about the need to lift the embargo culminating in the launch of the National Anti-Sanctions Petition Campaign in March this year, the MDC formations, particularly MDC-T, has been ambivalent posturing about sanctions by day, and asking that they be maintained by night.
The anti-Sanctions campaign has since surpassed expectations by amassing more than 2.2million signatures countrywide.
Minister Mumbengegwi said the issue of political violence and security sector reforms were not discussed as they were not part of the agenda.
‘‘No that (security sector reforms) never came up, and there is no reason why it should have come up because that is nonsense,'' Minister Mumbengegwi said.
Turning to the election roadmap agreed on by the three parties to the inclusive Government, Minister Mumbengegwi said Summit had called on all the parties to the inclusive Government to expedite the drawing of the roadmap and complete the constitution-making process so that elections can be held as soon as possible.
Zanu-PF has been insisting on elections saying some of its partners in Government were stalling the implementation of government programmes while the MDC formations have been calling for a postponement of polls claiming the environment was not conducive for the holding of free and fair elections.
‘‘No that never came up, and there is no reason why it should come up because that is nonsense,''
Labels: CAESAR ZVAYI, ROBERT MUGABE, SADC, SANCTIONS, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, ZDERA
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Sadc rejects Livingstone doc
Sunday, 12 June 2011 23:06
From Caesar Zvayi in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
THE Extraordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government ended here last night with the full summit rejecting the outcome of the controversial Livingstone Troika Summit that was fraught with procedural irregularities. The three-member Troika is an organ of summit and reports to the full 14-member summit which can either endorse or reject the recommendations the Troika makes.
Since the Livingstone Troika Summit, the full Sadc Su-mmit had not convened to receive the report since Zimbabwe was deferred from the agenda of the extraordinary Summit held in Windhoek, Namibia, last month after
President Mugabe said he did not want to ambush other principals who had not been invited to Windhoek since the summit was for Heads of State and/or Government per se.
Speaking to journalists after arrival at the Harare International Airport this morning, President Mugabe described the extraordinary summit's outcome as very good.
‘‘It came out very well. There was a very good report by the facilitator (President Jacob Zuma) where he acknowledged the efforts that the GPA is making, in other words what our negotiators and the principals put together are making and that there is progress now, that there is work going on to establish the roadmap, that the highlights of the roadmap have been marked that what remains now are the timelines,'' he said.
Turning to the Livingstone Troika debacle, the President absolved his South African counterpart of any wrongdoing saying the President Zuma had presented a report of what transpired, but basing on the MDC-T document.
‘‘It turns out that his actual report is very innocent. It is more what was discussed based on the document yaTsvangirai, apparently, that emerged as the report ya facilitator otherwise the facilitator made a very innocent report. You will get it if you look for it,'' the President said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi des-cribed the Sandton Summit outcome as very good.
‘‘The Summit went on very well, very, very well. Summit only noted the outcome of Livingstone, they did not endorse, Summit noted. And as you know in diplomatic parlance, you know what ‘noting' means? It was noted, it was not endor-sed,'' he said.
The Livingstone Troika Report was one of two documents that were presented to summit. The other one being the Report on the Outcome of the Sadc Emissaries to the EU and US where they had been sent by the region to lobby for the lifting of the West's illegal economic sanctions regime.
The westerners are reported to have told the Sadc emissaries that there was no agreement on sanctions in Zimbabwe hence they would not lift the sanctions, and Summit was yesterday told that MDC-T was Nichodemously urging westerners to maintain the sanctions regime in flagrant violation of the GPA that says sanctions must go in their entirety.
‘‘Summit reiterated its position on the sanctions and called upon all the parties in Zimbabwe to unequivocally campaign for the lifting of sanctions. Summit also called on the parties to work on the elections roadmap.''
Sadc leaders first called for the lifting of the illegal economic sanctions regime at their extra-ordinary summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on March 31, 2007 and pledged to help Zimbabwe fight the illegal embargo. A team of emissaries was then set up at another extra-ordinary Summit held in Mbabane, Swaziland on March 31, 2009 where member states also pledged a rescue package to help Zimbabwe fight the debilitating sanctions.
Though Zanu-PF has been quite vocal about the need to lift the embargo culminating in the launch of the National Anti-Sanctions Petition Campaign in March this year, the MDC formations, particularly MDC-T, has been ambivalent posturing about sanctions by day, and asking that they be maintained by night.
The anti-Sanctions campaign has since surpassed expectations by amassing more than 2.2million signatures countrywide.
Minister Mumbengegwi said the issue of political violence and security sector reforms were not discussed as they were not part of the agenda.
‘‘No that (security sector reforms) never came up, and there is no reason why it should have come up because that is nonsense,'' Minister Mumbengegwi said.
Turning to the election roadmap agreed on by the three parties to the inclusive Government, Minister Mumbengegwi said Summit had called on all the parties to the inclusive Government to expedite the drawing of the roadmap and complete the constitution-making process so that elections can be held as soon as possible.
Zanu-PF has been insisting on elections saying some of its partners in Government were stalling the implementation of government programmes while the MDC formations have been calling for a postponement of polls claiming the environment was not conducive for the holding of free and fair elections.
‘‘No that never came up, and there is no reason why it should come up because that is nonsense,''
Labels: CAESAR ZVAYI, ROBERT MUGABE, SADC, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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No money for elections: Biti
by Staff Reporter
27/04/2011 00:00:00
ZIMBABWE does not have the
$400 million needed to organise elections this year despite President Robert Mugabe’s determination to hold fresh polls and end the coalition government, Finance minister Tendai Biti has said.
Biti’s revelation comes after senior officials from President Mugabe’s Zanu PF party turned down offers to fund the elections by the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Early this month Zanu PF national chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo said his party could not accept funding from countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“We will not allow that development. When it comes to this issue, there’s no compromise and each one of us must carry their own cross,” Moyo was quoted as saying.
Foreign affairs minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi also ruled out foreign funding of the elections during a recent meeting in Harare with envoys from the regional SADC grouping.
Meanwhile, Biti said the coalition government faced a $150 million deficit this year because it had missed all revenue targets with almost half the year gone.
The government has set a revenue target of $2.7 billion this year, but the economy has performed poorly due to the unstable political environment.
President Mugabe wants an early election because the coalition government, which was formed in 2009, has become disfunctional.
“The economy cannot sustain an election,” Biti told journalists in Harare.
“The budget we have has remained static. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has submitted a budget of $400 million. Where do I get that kind of money when I am looking for $150 million to fund the budget deficit if the revenues remain as they are?”
Biti’s remarks suggest that an election would be unlikely this year.
Again a road map produced by the three parties in the coalition last week effectively ruled out elections this year.
Negotiators from Zanu-PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations crafted the blue print with the assistance of facilitators appointed by South African President Jacob Zuma
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS (ZIMBABWE), MDC, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, TENDAI BITI
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COMMENT - Now that's leverage. I would say the US should be ready to lift economic sanctions, pay reparations and issue a public apoligy for destroying the Zimbabwean economy.
US warns Zimbabwe over Iran uranium plan
by Staff Reporter
09/03/2011 00:00:00
THE United States has warned Zimbabwe there would be serious ramifications if it cooperates with Iran’s nuclear programme in violation of United Nations resolutions.
U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Washington was concerned over recent statements by Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi that United Nations sanctions on Iran were unfair and hypocritical.
"We are concerned by statements that would suggest that Zimbabwe would be open to cooperating with Iran in ways that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions," he told reporters.
"The foreign minister of Zimbabwe is entitled to his opinion but the government of Zimbabwe is still bound by its commitments to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions," Crowley said.
"There are ramifications for countries that decline to observe their international obligations.”
Mumbengegwi told Iranian news agency ISNA on Thursday last week that Zimbabwe was willing to work with Iran on extracting uranium resources meant for Tehran's controversial nuclear programme.
“Zimbabwe holds rich resources, but the problem we face is lack of budget, finance and required technical equipment to take the very rich resources out and use them,” ISNA reported Mumbengegwi as saying.
It has been known for many years that uranium deposits lie in the Zambezi River valley but were not exploited due to low uranium prices. It is estimated that the country’s Kanyemba Mine holds more than 45,000 tons of uranium ore with over 20,000 tons extractible.
Mumbengegwi also criticised attempts by Western countries to sanction Iran over its nuclear programme, saying "those making claims on Iran's enrichment work hold nuclear weapons and hostile nuclear programme."
"Any country has the right to use peaceful nuclear energy based on international rules," he added.
Labels: IRAN, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, URANIUM
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Iran hails Zimbabwe's regional role
By: Our reporter
Posted: Sunday, November 21, 2010 3:47 am
IRANIAN Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has stressed Harare's important role in developments in Africa, and underlined Tehran's support for the Zimbabwean government.
While speaking at a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Simbarashe Mumbengegwi in Tehran on Saturday, Mr Mottaki said: "Zimbabwe enjoys a special standing, given its role in regional and international organizations."
He added: that the country "is an influential member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Group 15, the Group 77 and the UN."
Mr Mottaki has denounced the "West's hypocrisy" and politicization of human rights issue in Iran.
He criticized the recent West-sponsored resolution that accuses the Islamic Republic of violating human rights inside the country.
He said the "blatant violation of human rights in the world by Western countries is so hated in the eyes of the public opinion that their claims and statements regarding defending human rights in the world are of no use."
Mottaki said Western countries, including Canada, are not in a position to talk about human rights, while their soldiers accompanied by other aggressors are accomplices in killings of hundreds of thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Iranian minister further pointed out that some Western countries conduct systematic violations of human rights, while Islamic principles call for observing human rights.
He said Western policies in Afghanistan have failed, adding the United States and its allies have come to realize that the era of militarism is over.
The Iranian foreign minister pointed to the West's unfair treatment of the African nations during the history, saying Iran has always stood by the people and government of Zimbabwe.
"In continuation of pursuing their policies in Africa some western countries tried to impose special conditions on Zimbabwe, but the Zimbabwe nation and government stood against those pressure," Mottaki continued.
Foreign minister Mumbengegwi hailed the Islamic Republic as a reliable partner and said that Iranian firms are cooperating with Zimbabwe in different fields.
Mumbengegwi stressed that Zimbabwe is seeking to encourage transfer of Iranian technology to Harare.
Mottaki said Iran will continue expanding ties and cooperation with Zimbabwe, specially in economic and investment fields.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration has expanded relations with Zimbabwe.
Following a three-nation African tour on February 23, 2009 which took Mr Ahmadinejad to Djibouti, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Comoros, the Iranian president termed expansion of Tehran's relations with African countries a "priority for Iran's foreign policy".
Iran is also an observing member of the AU and has shown an active presence in previous AU summit meetings.
Tehran in September hosted a large number of government and private sector officials from more than 40 African states for a two-day conference called 'Iran-Africa Forum'.
During the 'Iran-Africa Forum', Mr Ahmadinejad underlined Iran's resolve to boost cooperation with Africa, and voiced Tehran's preparedness to host a summit of the African Union's heads of state.
"We are ready to welcome our brothers and sisters for an African Union (AU) summit in Tehran," Ahmadinejad said, addressing the opening session of the forum.
"We have the honor to declare that we are ready to share all our experiences and power with Africa to build the future," the president stressed.
Labels: IRAN, MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, ZIMBABWE
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Zambia, Zimbabwe to hold joint permanent commission meetings
By Salim Dawood
Wed 08 Sep. 2010, 15:10 CAT
The 15th session of the Zambia/Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission is expected to take place in Lusaka this weekend, Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement.
The meeting, scheduled to take place from September 8-10, is among many issues expected to discuss cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, anti-corruption and boundary issues.
The ministry further stated that the Zambian delegation which will include permanent secretaries from a number of ministries and other senior officials from other sectors of government will be led by foreign affairs minister, Kabinga Pande.
The Zimbabwean delegation is also expected to be led by that country that country’s foreign affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi along with the permanent secretaries from various ministries and other senior government officials.
“The JPC between the two countries was established in 1981 and has to date, met 14 times, with the last session being held in Zimbabwe in 2006,” read the statement in part.
“The 15th session will consider and review cooperation in areas such trade and investment, agriculture, livestock and fisheries, finance and investment, mining and mineral development, micro small and medium enterprises, tourism, education and training, culture, transport, science technology, local government and housing, information and broadcasting, immigration, citizenship issues, museums and monuments, social welfare, labour, health, energy and water, anti-corruption and boundary issues,” the ministry stated.
Labels: KABINGA PANDE, PERMANENT SECRETARIES, REGIONAL INTEGRATION, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE JOINT PERMANENT COMMISSION, ZIMBABWE
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Portugal offers to facilitate Zim-EU dialogue
By: Nancy Pasipanodya
Posted: Friday, June 18, 2010 11:11 pm
PORTUGAL is ready to promote a “platform of dialogue” between Zimbabwe and the European Union, a senior Lisbon official who is currently visiting Zimbabwe indicated this week. Portuguese deputy foreign minister António Braga said this after talks with the Zimbabwean government in Harare.
Mr Braga told Lusa News Agency he had informed Vice-Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe and Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi of Lisbon’s readiness to serve as a broker despite its sharing the EU view that Zimbabwe had fallen short in its power-sharing scheme.
The news comes as Harare has blamed the western bloc for blocking progress in the talks and for imposing illegal and ruinous sanctions against the country.
International sanctions need a resolution by the United Nations. China and Russia have blocked the UN Security Council from imposing sanctions against Zimbabwe saying the conflict in the country is not "threat to international peace and security" and is a domestic issue.
"It seems to suggest to us that the EU has never taken this dialogue seriously at all," Minister Mumbengegwi said after meeting with Mr Braga.
"They are just playing games with the lives of people of Zimbabwe and I know that in international relations, morality is the first casualty.
"We are still waiting for the EU to indicate to us when our delegation should go there and they certainly seem to be taking their time," added Minister Mumbengegwi.
Early this year, Brussels renewed its illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe for another 12 months. US President Barack Obama also renewed for a year his notorious and discredited sanctions document, the so-called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zdera) imposed by his predecessor, George W Bush.
The sanctions aim to press President Robert Mugabe to give in to demands from the former opposition forces led by current Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Among other things, the MDC-T party demands the reversal of appointments of Reserve Bank Governor Dr Gideon Gono and the Attorney General Johannes Tomana. These demands were not in the inclusive Government document, the Global Political Agreement.
Labels: ANTONIO BRAGA, PORTUGAL, SANCTIONS, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI, ZDERA
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EU playing games: Foreign Minister
by Staff Reporter
16/06/2010 00:00:00
FOREIGN Affairs minister on Tuesday accused the European Union of delaying a new round of talks meant to assess progress in meeting long-delayed political and human rights reforms.
"It seems to suggest to us that the EU has never taken this dialogue seriously at all," Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said after meeting with Portugal's deputy foreign minister Antonio Braga.
"They are just playing games with the lives of people of Zimbabwe and I know that in international relations, morality is the first casualty," he said.
"We are still waiting for the EU to indicate to us when our delegation should go there and they certainly seem to be taking their time."
A Zimbabwean government delegation was supposed to travel to Brussels in May for talks on improving ties, but the trip was cancelled as a result of the cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland that disrupted flights over Europe.
Relations between Zimbabwe and the European Union were strained 10 years ago by elections marred by violence and widespread allegations of human rights abuses by President Robert Mugabe's government.
[Land reform. - MrK]
EU leaders in February renewed sanctions against Mugabe and his inner circle for another year, citing a lack of progress in implementing political and human rights reforms.
Mugabe and his Zanu PF party are pushing for the removal of the sanctions and have vowed not to make further concessions in talks with coalition partners until the measures are removed.
However British foreign secretary William Hague has insisted that any review of the sanctions would depend on progress in implementing reforms agreed in the political deal signed by Mugabe and long-term rival Morgan Tsvangirai, now the country’s prime minister.
Labels: EU, NEOCOLONIALISM, SANCTIONS, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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‘Western media peddling falsehoods about Zim’
Herald Reporter
The information peddled by hostile Western media about the situation in Zimbabwe is false, Vice President Joice Mujuru said yesterday.
Speaking after a courtesy call by the visiting Malawi Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor Etah Banda, at her Munhumutapa offices yesterday, VP Mujuru said the Western media was painting a false picture about the situation in Zimbabwe.
"Most of the things propagated about Zimbabwe by some Western countries through their media are falsehoods. The situation in Zimbabwe is not like what they want the world to believe.
"They (Western countries) should let us solve our problems because right now every country has its own share of problems. They should take a cue from our neighbours and Sadc.
"Sadc and the AU understands us and they are the right people to assist as African brothers."
VP Mujuru urged the Malawi delegation to go and tell the world the true Zimbabwean story, adding that Malawi as a neighbour understood Zimbabwe better.
She said Zimbabwe was a peace-loving country and what it required was respect of its sovereignty that was acquired after bloodshed.
VP Mujuru commended the mutual relations existing between Zimbabwe and Malawi dating back to the days of the liberation struggle.
"Zimbabwe and Malawi are one family and we are proud of the cordial cultural relationship that exist among our people that have also seen our people inter-marrying," she said.
Addressing journalists after a closed door meeting with VP Mujuru, Prof Banda who was accompanied by her Zimbabwean counterpart, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, said the VP had encouraged them to continue working for the benefit of the people of the two countries.
She reiterated that Zimbabwe and Malawi were one family. "Zimbabwe and Malawi are one family, what only separates us are boundaries," said Prof Banda.
She said they had agreed with Minister Mumbengegwi to implement all the resolutions of the recent Joint Permanent Commission.
Minister Mumbengegwi said the communique they signed was a binding document that reflected the relationship between Zimbabwe and Malawi.
"What we have signed here is a reflection of what we have done during the past three days. We have made a lot of changes to the original document and this shows how we understand each other in a sisterly and brotherly manner," he said.
Cde Mumbengegwi said Zimbabwe was willing to learn more in the agriculture sector from Malawi to boost the country’s food reserves.
Labels: INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, JOICE MUJURU, MALAWI, NEOCOLONIALISM, PROPAGANDA, SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
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