Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Boost for Zim-SA relations as Ramaphosa flies in | Sunday Mail

Kuda Bwititi
Chief Reporter

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will arrive in Harare tomorrow for the third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) that is expected to deepen bilateral relations and broaden mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.

The BNC’s Heads of State Summit, which will be graced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his SA counterpart, takes place on Tuesday.

The Sunday Mail understands that six South African ministers – Lindiwe Sisulu (International Relations and Cooperation), Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula (Defence and Military Veterans), Rob Davis (Trade and Industry), Siyabonga Cwele (Home Affairs), Blade Nzimande (Transport) and Bogopane Zulu (Deputy Minister for Social Development) – will jet in today.

Other ministers are, however, expected to travel to Harare with President Ramaphosa.

Zimbabwe is South Africa’s biggest trading partner.

President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Ms Khusela Diko confirmed his itinerary yesterday and emphasised the extent of the economic relations between the two countries.

“Trade cooperation between the two countries is at a high level to the extent that South African exports to Zimbabwe in 2018, amounted to approximately R30,8 billion (about US$2,1 billion), while imports from Zimbabwe amounted to approximately R3,6 billion (US$250 million), thus placing Zimbabwe among South Africa’s top trading partners on the continent.

“South Africa and Zimbabwe have good bilateral political, economic and social relations underpinned by strong historical ties dating back from the years of the liberation struggle,” she said.

Several agreements covering political, economic, social and cultural relations will be signed this week.

There are expectations the upgrade of Beitbridge Border Post and the revival of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) will get fresh impetus through bilateral engagements between the two sister republics.

Senior officials from the two countries concluded their two-day marathon discussions on Friday, paving the way for the ministerial session.

During a meeting of senior officials from the two countries on Thursday, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign and International Trade Ambassador James Manzou said the BNC would commit the two countries to urgently implement the 45 agreements that have been signed in the previous bilateral engagements.

“The success of our cooperation will not be measured by the number of agreements we sign or the number of decisions that we take. It will be measured by the action we take and the concrete results that can be attributed to it. This means implementation of those agreements and decisions,” he said.

In his remarks at the same occasion, SA’s director-general in the department of International Relations and Cooperation Mr Kgabo Mahoai said the BNC should bring tangible and mutual benefits for people from the two countries.

He said the BNC should come up with a “deliverables that are realistic, achievable, time-bound and with potential to impact on the livelihoods of our people”.

According to draft agenda minutes of the BNC seen by The Sunday Mail, deliberations will be anchored on four thematic committees, which are political and diplomatic; economic; social as well as defence and security.

Most importantly, the economic committee will deliberate on “financial cooperation, arrears clearance roadmap, non-financial cooperation and customs matters”.

Discussions will also centre on the “implementation of the Joint Water Commission projects, cooperation in the energy sector, cooperation between regulatory authorities, cooperation in natural gas, bio-fuels and petroleum fuel marking”.

Further, officials will also focus on construction of the Mozambique-Zimbabwe-South Africa power transmission line that is expected to improve connectivity and electricity trading in Southern Africa.

In addition to signing agreements on arts, culture and heritage, women empowerment and youth affairs, the two countries will also zero in on establishing a database for Zimbabwean teachers based in South Africa, compensation of Wenela (Witwatersrand Native Labour Association) claimants as well as cooperation in education, media and information communication technology (ICT).

Agenda minutes also show that Harare and Pretoria will discuss “South African permits for Zimbabweans, Zimbabwe Exemption Permits, Dispensation for Zimbabwe Programme, cross-border migration of unaccompanied minors”.

Most importantly, sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States of America and the European Union (EU) bloc, which have had deleterious effects on the country, will also come under scrutiny.

A fortnight ago, South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu confirmed that one of the main issues on the agenda for this year’s BNC would be sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West.

At the last BNC held in Pretoria in 2017, the two countries signed five agreements for cross-border trading cooperation, energy, environment, information communication technologies (ICT) and sports and recreation.

 

 

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Source: Economic revival unstoppable: ED | Sunday Mail

Levi Mukarati and Tanaka Nyambo

Zimbabwe is on an inexorable and unstoppable economic and political trajectory that will definitely lead to prosperity, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

The country, he said, is like a train that has left the station and those that have taken the chance to board will likely reap huge rewards.

He also called on the United States government to remove “illegal, spiteful and completely unjustified sanctions on our country, which continue to violate basic human rights of our people”.

Addressing thousands of mourners yesterday at the National Heroes Acre during the burial of national hero Brigadier-General Emilio Munemo, the President said his administration will continue to deepen sound economic and political reforms to complement the ongoing engagement and re-engagement drive.

Brig-Gen Munemo died on Sunday last week after a short illness.

He was 64.

In his eulogy, President Mnangagwa said: “Zimbabwe is a train on the move. We cannot be derailed, we cannot be stopped. Let us march forward ever, backward never. Victory is certain, our prosperity is inevitable.”

The war of liberation that culminated in an independent Zimbabwe in 1980, he added, was waged to restore peace by revolutionaries who believed in peace; and, therefore, it was unconscionable that the country could “pose any type of threat, to any country in the world”.

“…I am aware that as I make this exhortation, the American government has renewed sanctions against us.

“We call for the unconditional removal of the illegal, spiteful and completely unjustified sanctions on our country which continue to violate basic human rights of our people.

“We fought for peace, we believe in peace and we do not pose any type of threat, to any country in the world.”

He emphasised the need to determinedly continue on the path of reform and economic development that was meant to modernise and industrialise the country within the next 11 years.

There was need to continue increasing production in order to guarantee a prosperous future, he said.

President Mnangagwa said: “As it was during the days of the liberation struggle, many discouragements and misfortunes will befall us.

“Back then we remained focused on our task to liberate our motherland.

“Today, let us not be deterred from the course we have begun. Our economic and political reforms must continue in earnest; the engagement and re-engagement we seek with those who open their door to us must carry on with greater impetus.

“Furthermore, let us increase our productivity and exports across all sectors, improve infrastructure to attract trade and investment as well as broaden our tourism products to grow that sector.”

He reiterated his commitment to dialogue to move the country forward as the Second Republic was an egalitarian society.

“As a listening President, I launched the Presidential Advisory Council on Thursday 7 March 2019. This, along with other ongoing initiatives, reflects my Government’s commitment to collective, consultative and participatory governance.

“No-one is more or less important, bigger or smaller in the rebuilding of our great country. My doors remain open for dialogue with all our people, for whatever reason,” he said.

Zimbabweans, the President added, had to emulate the late Brig-Gen Munemo, who he described as an “exceptional researcher”, through pursuing research in their various fields, which he said was key to transforming the country into an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

“Equally, I challenge researchers to be catalysts in our quest to modernise and industrialise our economy, both in rural and urban areas.”

Brig-Gen Munemo was also described as a distinguished cadre of the liberation struggle, teacher par excellence, mobiliser and a reservoir of knowledge on the values of the liberation war.

“It is that rich record which has earned him a place in our hearts and informed our decision to lay him to rest at this shrine of honour, the National Heroes Acre, alongside many other revolutionaries gone before him.

“As much as it is hard to console his bereaved family, let us all take pride in the great deeds which the late Cde Munemo accomplished in the service of his people and nation; deeds that will outline his life on this earth and will inspire generations to come,” explained the President.

Brig-Gen Munemo was born on 25 November 1995 in the then-Chibi (Chivi) District of Fort Victoria (Masvingo).

He went to Fletcher High School in the early 1970s, after which he briefly joined the teaching service between 1974 and 1976.

In mid-1976, he joined Hippo Valley Estates as a clerk for a short period before crossing the border into Mozambique to join the liberation struggle in early 1977.

His teaching experience was of great use to Zanu, which at that time grappled with thousands of child refugees housed at Xai-Xai Transit Camp.

The party deployed the late Brig-Gen Munemo to open a school at the camp for the children.

He successfully established the school, which was finally relocated to Tete in 1978.

Apart from teaching, the late national hero undertook various duties, including administration and research, in the Culture Section of the Department of Education, which was headed by Dr Dzingai Mutumbuka at Matenje Base.

After his military training at Tembwe in 1979, Bri-Gen Munemo was deployed in Gaza Province later that year.

Together with other cadres, he faced, fought and survived the many challenges which came with mounting operations in Gaza Province.

They braved armed units of the South Africa apartheid regime which had been deployed in Rhodesia.

At independence, Brig-Gen Munemo was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army as Lieutenant-Colonel and rose through the ranks.

The late Brigadier-General held many posts in the military, including at the Zimbabwe Staff College, the Public Relations Directorate and the Civil-Military Directorate, which he helped set up and initially led as its director in 2003 and then later as the Director-General in 2010.

The late Brigadier-General received numerous awards during his military career.

The burial was also attended by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Chief of the South African Army Lieutenant-General Lindile Yam, Zanu-PF members from various organs, ministers, service chiefs and members of the diplomatic community.

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President Emmerson Mnangagwa moved to disband Zanu PF structures in Harare and Bulawayo after growing concerns that Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s growing influence was creating two centres of power. According to insiders, a faction linked to the military, with Chiwenga alleged to be its godfather in Zanu PF’s civilian structures, was now running the show in […]

Source: Zim ‘desperately needs dialogue’ to stop the ‘cancer’ from spreading | City Press

Any meaningful solution to the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe will have to come from the country’s citizens themselves, but it is in the interest of South Africa and the region to be more assertive in its diplomatic efforts to facilitate a resolution.

Human rights lawyer and opposition MDC Senator David Coltart told a recent Gibs forum: “We desperately need the international community to facilitate a dialogue. Zimbabwe has a corrosive power in the region and the potential to reverse democratic gains. If we do not return to the values of the constitution, this cancer can spread to the region and undermine it, including South Africa.”

Professor Arthur Mutambara, former deputy prime minister of Zimbabwe said the root of Zimbabwe’s current crisis lay in the fact that the current government of Emmerson Mnangagwa was established by a coup d’état in 2017: “You cannot build a democracy on that basis.” Furthermore, “the economy is in free fall and there is no appetite for resolving the economic crisis. There is a deficit of confidence and trust,” he added.

Coltart said Zimbabwe is at a critical moment and is “arguably in its deepest crisis ever. After the military assisted transition there was the appearance of returning confidence and hope that Mnangagwa would match rhetoric with action.”

However, he called the July 2018 election “the most illegal election in Zimbabwean history – we saw a cynical disregard for electoral law.”

Tensions continued to increase following the collapse of the economy in October 2018 and calls to double the petrol price in January 2019 to the highest in the world resulted in a national strike.

“The merciless response from the military saw live ammunition used against civilians, bail was systematically denied and the military was in complete violation of the constitution,” Coltart explained. Often, the authorities targeted people not associated with the unrest, including church, civil and trade union leaders.

“The economic stabilisation that we saw between 2009 and 2013 has been completely undone. A culture of impunity plagues our nation,” he said.

Coltart called for a return to constitutionalism and a renewed focus on respect for the rights of incarcerated people and respect for free and fair elections. “We need to get to the institutional foundation of our country. Therein lies our solution.”

The role of Zimbabweans

Chief executive of Old Mutual Emerging Markets Peter Moyo told the forum that: “Once Zimbabweans realise that the world does not need Zimbabwe, they will get a wake-up call. The international community doesn’t have to do anything.”

However, he admitted it is difficult to convince people to take bold steps as they “have been beaten into submission.”

Former dean of Gibs, Professor Nick Binedell, added that although “primarily, the Zimbabwean story rests with Zimbabweans”, the county’s crisis was structural.

“One of the errors we all make is believing that somehow, something magical will come and turn it around.”

“It takes extraordinary courage to live in and to be active in a society where you are confronted by a state that knows few boundaries, is prepared to shoot its own citizen and intimidate and oppress them to this level,” he added.

“Zimbabweans need each other. Real dialogue comes from acknowledging that the whole is more powerful than the parts. Yet those with true power – business, the military and government can continue eating,” Binedell said.

“It is hard to apply logic and reason to what has happened in Zimbabwe, as it is so complicated and contradictory; which means you don’t have an adequate bearing of what could happen.”

The role of SA, SADC and the international community

Coltart called on South Africa and the international community to push for the establishment of an independent electoral commission and encourage Zimbabweans to register to vote, including the diaspora.

“Zimbabwe is a very strategic player in the region and it is in the interest of all neighbouring countries that is does stabilise, and develop its human and natural resource potential. Its latent potential remains phenomenal,” Binedell said.

South Africa especially has had the benefit of the crisis of Zimbabwe and the country remained “a psychological fear for South Africa as it has similar structural elements and it is possible, but not probable, that we could go down the same path.”

Binedell said South Africa’s diplomatic policy towards Zimbabwe had been a failure and he called on local business with operations in the country to do more to use their strength and influence and shape the government and the situation. “South African companies make a lot of money in Zimbabwe today and have largely stood by while the situation has gotten worse and worse.”

“A total collapse of the into a humanitarian crisis is possible – that should inform the strength of the action taken by Zimbabweans, the diaspora and by countries like South Africa. It is in our direct interest to do as much as we can. While South Africa can’t fix Zimbabwe, it can be an agency of bringing about rational order to the country,” he continued.

Ensuring free and fair elections and establishing an independent electoral commission “are all practical things which can be done, and they should be done.

Zimbabwe is absolutely worth fighting for, and we should do whatever we can to support human rights, the building of democracy and the growing of this incredible economy,” Binedell concluded.

“The Southern African Development Community and the African Union must take a vested interest in Zimbabwe,” Professor Mutambara added.

“As Africans we’re going to sink or swim together.”

• City Press is a media partner of the Gibs forum

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Zimbabwe hired US lobbyists linked to President Donald Trump’s 2016 election race in a bid to have sanctions it says are hindering its economy scrapped.

Source: Managing dodgy reputations a risky business – Zimbabwe hires Trump gun – BizNews.com

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