Mabasa Sasa in New York
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe has no quarrel with the United States government and its people, and he is pleased with the way relations between the two countries are improving.
Zimbabwe’s Head of State and Government made these remarks while responding to questions from the floor at the Zimbabwe Investors’ Forum, organised by private equity firm, Exotix USA Inc in New York on Friday.
The President was at the highly-subscribed Forum together with Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya.
President Mnangagwa is in the United States for the 73rd Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he will this week deliver his maiden speech to the world’s largest international organisation since winning the 2018 Presidential elections.
At Friday’s investment forum, President Mnangagwa was asked why Zimbabwe’s opposition appeared to have a strong lobby in Washington and New York, and what his Government was doing to improve relations.
The President pointed out that differences between the two countries stemmed from a bilateral dispute between Harare and London, but that ties between those two were normalising and there was no need for America to remain aloof when Zimbabwe was opening up to the world and shedding off its negative perceptions in the international community.
He also said Zimbabwe wanted to enter “a new era” of relations with the US.
President Mnangagwa said, “With regard to sanctions: Initially the quarrel was not between the people of the United States of America and the people of Zimbabwe. The quarrel was between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. It was a bilateral quarrel.
“But the British were able to internationalise our bilateral quarrel between ourselves and them, which roped in the EU, and then it roped in the Americans through former President (George W) Bush, and in Britan there was Tony Blair.
“But I’m happy now they have a lady. You know when we got our Independence in 1980, in 1979 there was a very serious war in Zimbabwe against Ian Smith. But there was a change of government in the United Kingdom and Margaret Thatcher came to power. She was the person who ended our war.
“So each time there is a lady in Britain, things change. This time around, on the 24th of November (2017) when I was inaugurated, within 35 minutes I had a minister from (UK Prime Minister) Theresa May calling on me. Our relations with Britain have improved tremendously and we are now talking.
“So America is left out in the cold by the British and the EU. But I’m happy that also the German (leader) is a lady. She has sent a minister to come and resuscitate relations between Zimbabwe and Germany. And we are so happy with Germany. The same with France, though he is a man but again, he’s very good.”
He went on: “So the basic point I’m making is, there is no problem, there is no quarrel between the people of Zimbabwe and the people of America. Historically or currently, there is no quarrel. The quarrel is at the level of administration, where Zidera (the US sanctions law on Zimbabwe) was put — you know that history.
“But just now the signals that are coming from Washington are very positive.” – The Sunday Mail
