Stop Using The Army To Harass And Intimidate People - US Diplomat

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Matthew Harrington has said that the Zimbabwean government must reform for sanctions to be lifted. The diplomat specifically identified the use of the security sector to intimidate citizens and the media and repressive laws as major issues to be dealt with.

Speaking at Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, Harrington said that the removal of sanctions depended upon Zimbabwe. Harrington said:

Any goodwill from the international community that might have been generated by an improved election process dissipated as a result of several problematic developments.

In addition, in January and February (2019) the army launched a sustained crackdown on citizens in response to their protests over fuel price increases. We welcome a better relationship with Zimbabwe, but the ball is very much in the Zimbabwean government’s court. If there’s real, concrete progress in the areas laid out in the ZIDERA legislation Zimbabwe will find a committed partner in the United States.

Speaking after Harrington, Mnangagwa’s economic adviser Ashok Chakravarti, said that sanctions had created a perception problem as potential investors were being scared away. Chakravarti said:

ZIDERA does make a difference to trade and commercial flows, not legally. International markets don’t necessarily work purely on the laws in place. Perception is terribly important.

Some years ago, we had 40 correspondent banks which dealt with Zimbabwe. It’s a fact that there are only about half a dozen banks that are willing to do business with Zimbabwe now because of the perceived risks.

Related: 

• WATCH: UK Speaks On Zim Readmission Into Commonwealth & Sanctions
• WATCH: US Diplomat On What Zimbabwe Needs to Do To Have Sanctions Removed

More: Zimlive.com