Stating the Obvious : Sanctions are Real

By Nick Mangwana

A few decades ago in my Kutama days we were always told that to pass an exam you had to state the obvious. This is not an exam, neither am I trying to triumph in anything. I am just a simple man stating the obvious. Nothing sophisticated. Nothing you haven't heard before. And definitely  nothing ground breaking. Just a few home truths.

President Putin says that sanctions imposed by the West against Russia are illegal because they were not imposed through the United Nations.  Sounds familiar? Since these sanctions, the Russian currency called the rouble has tumbled. Russian economy is stuttering. Consequently Russia is now reaching out to cultivate tighter economic relationships with China; déjà vu. We have absolutely have witnessed this elsewhere.

The sanctions regime against Russia is packaged as travel bans against certain members of the Russian government, Duma, State allied companies and businessmen.  In its usual grandiloquent parlance, the West uses terms like "Smart sanctions" , "targeted sanctions" or "travel embargo". Again familiar words calculated to mislead.

Russia is a powerful country, in any man's language. It has oil and gas whose revenues account  for half of its budget. It is the world's second largest oil exporter. It is a very large country with a population of about 144 million. It is technologically and industrially developed with a diversified base.  Some still consider it a super power. In August 2014 Russia had a stockpile of $472 billion in hard currency and $1.5 trillion of assets. Seemingly enough to withstand the effect of the Western sanctions against it.

However this has not been the case. Its economy is now struggling. Russian banks have been cut off from accessing international finances. In response they have tightened their own lending to local banks.  State companies like the oil giant Rosneft have already started showing signs of financial distress. Rosneft has already asked the State to bail it out with $25 billion from the reserves for it to be able to refinance its debt. The growth rate is flat-lining with most objective analysts settling on 0.2%. If these things happen to a tree that is green (Russia), how much more would have happened to a dry one (Zimbabwe). Add 15 years of the same and you stop wondering why the obvious happened; the economy burned. It's a either a miracle or dextrous statecraft why we are still standing.

I can hear my nephew Courage sighing, "Here we go again. The sanctions rhetoric starts". You see, when the EU announced with a lot of bedlam that they had lifted sanctions against Zimbabwe, he sent me a text saying that now I should never write about sanctions or Zim Asset. He said he would stop reading my pieces the moment he sees those words. He said that people were tired of those words and the sanctions excuse (as he calls) was a fagged out argument. He said that Zanu PF should just raise its hands and admit to its failures.  Well, muzukuru Courage, firstly this is not a sanctions rhetoric, secondly and more importantly Zimbabwe is still under sanctions.

I would like to first concede a few points;  Zanu PF government has made some mistakes. It therefore is responsible for some failures. Of course, it is a government run by mortals and there cannot be infallible.   But to deny that ZIDERA 2001 and the EU Special Measures (sanctions) did not play a major role in the economic decline of our country is disingenuous muzukuru. This is quite obvious, isn't it?

In the same spirit of stating the obvious, here is another admission of guilt;  The current goings in my Party Zanu PF's as an exordium to the Congress is damaging the economy. Oh yes. I have said it. Now let's also talk about those sanctions packaged as travel bans against the First Family. It always starts in a village.

I grew up in a village. In a neighbouring one, there was patriarch known as Mr Magodoza.  Mr Magodoza  was maliciously accused  of  some heinous crimes against his daughters. The stigma of the accusations against the old chap caused so much suffering to the rest his clan. Mothers discouraged their daughters from marrying into that clan. Fathers and uncles kept away their sons and nephews. Those daughters who persisted had a king's ransom tagged for lobola. Even some of those who had already married suffered premature matrimonial dissolutions. It was not only nuptial issues that were affected.

Community relations were that.  it was normal for people  borrow salt, sugar  or fire. For those not familiar with the latter let me explain what might seems obvious to the rest. In the village when one wanted to ignite a fire, they would use a match. In many cases there would be none. One would then have to send a child to the next homestead to borrow some burning coal from their hearth to use as a kindle to fire up their own hearth (kugoka moto). This was very important otherwise you would not have a cooked meal.  Magodoza's clan suffered such social isolation that this very simple transaction became anathema to the rest of the village.

 In the village we had a cattle  exchange system or loaning system known as kuronza mombe (of the mombe yekuronzerwa kama wakaringa nzira fame). One who needed a cow for milk would swap with one who needed an ox for tilling the furrow. This is just day to day village life. With the Magodozas these  transactions were not only rescinded, but when they did happen they were so lop-sided and unfair. 

The stigma from the accusations against Magodoza  affected all inter-clan and kinsmen transactions.  Even though it later emerged that the accusations were malevolent the clan had already suffered from structural cleavage. Decades later they are still recovering from it. A patriarch is the nexus of all clan kinship, transactions and social organisation. By the same token a head of state is the sovereign embodiment of a nation's being. 

I am sure the reader has heard enough of my village story and folklore.  I apologise for going on and on. It would be helpful if the reader would now connect Magodoza's story with the sanctions against the First Family. Alternatively, let me state the obvious again at the risk of sounding mundane and banal.

When a Head of State is placed under sanctions. It can appear innocuous to the citizenry. You hear people asking why they would care if Mugabe and wife are stopped from going shopping in Europe.

No Cdes, if I were a rich president would I waste my time moving between racks of clothes checking sizes and trying out? Most of us hate the dressing and undressing in changing rooms that comes with buying off-the-rack clothes. Those with money and power normally call in an exclusive designer to come and take their measurements and outfit them. Bespoke fashion would be the obvious choice. I wouldn't need to go shopping in Europe.  My European tastes would come to me. History is replete with examples of such( Mobutu's extravagance for starters). They import extravagant luxuries from all over the world. They don't have to be physically there to do it. Doh.

 These sanctions are not  about that. It's not about travelling, it's not about shopping, it is neither about filthy lucre stashed away somewhere.  it is about stigmatising a country and demonising it. The religious Cdes will know that if you strike the shepherd, the sheep will scatter. You put a sanctions stain on a head of state, you blight the whole country and its economic system.

The country struggles to service its debts.  A country under sanctions has a very low credit rating as it is considered very risky. It cannot access lines of credit or attract foreign direct investment. Joint ventures with foreign companies are near impossible. Most of us saw the exchange between young Takunda Chingonzo and President Obama. We also know that his company Saisai and him personally were never on the sanctions list. Despite this he articulated how substantially affected he was by the so-called targeted sanctions. Here was an example of how effective the stigma and resultant stealthy sanctions have had on Zimbabwe and its employment capacity.

Let us remember the patriarch Magodoza. Let us remember the great bear, Russia. If Russian economy is tottering on the brink in spite of its G8 status, how much more for our little Zimbabwe, which is  just a harmless flame lily? So yes, Courage wehazvanzi, before I stop writing about sanctions and Zim Asset I will always need to once in a while state the obvious. One such obvious is that, if the President is under sanctions, Zimbabwe is under sanctions. 

Visit: ZANU PF UK Official Website

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Nick Mangwana: Chairman; ZANU PF UK

Tsvangirai: ‘End-game’ into the ‘deep-end’

By Bernard Bwoni

Reminiscing, reflecting and remembering of the opulence and abundance previously presented and longing for another stint on the pampered boulevard of the government of national unity days. Musing over the mansions, the mini-skirts, the motorcade processions, the women, the High Seas, more women, the Savoy, tripping and tumbling in Berlin, the Renewal and more women. 

Many people might not be aware of it but the opposition MDC-T party recently held its elective or should I say selective Congress where Mr Tsvangirai charged without conviction that ‘We will mobilise and galvanise the nation for the end-game’. 


What is it about Tsvangirai’s preoccupation with ‘endgames’, ‘game-changers’ and ‘deep-ends’? 

These are the clutches and grasping at straws by a man and a party with no game, guile or guts, a man whose game ended a long time ago that is if there was ever any game. This is a man who fronts an increasingly irrelevant and disintegrating grouping that has got no game or game to play let alone change. As Mr Tsvangirai rightly predicted in his book the only way for the opposition is a slow but sure descend into the deep-end never to come back up. Right now all the games are happening on the ruling party court with the opposition as mere spectators gazing in awe at the intraparty democracy and reconfiguration.

Political Voyeuristic Disorder: Tsvangirai, Chamisa and
Biti tripping over each otherto read the ZANU PF Manifesto

The picture of Mr Tsvangirai, Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti and other MDC-T party leadership tripping over each other to read the ZANU-PF Manifesto just before the 2013 elections is telling and clearly illustrates the political voyeuristic disorder that we see and continue to see within this party. And Mr Tsvangirai could not resist ‘borrowing’ from ZANU-PF again as always during his address at this Elective Congress saying ‘the solution to the national crisis lies in none but ourselves’. None-But-Ourselves (Iwe Neni Tine Basa – Mina Lawe Silo Musebenzi) is the ZANU-PF ideology and it is clear as crystal that MDC-T idolises ZANU-PF hence the huff and puff and tantrums about leading demonstrations to ‘force President Mugabe to accept the need for reforms’. 

This is the same Tsvangirai who during his five years in the GNU made, sorry I meant shared tea daily with President Mugabe and the only reforms he called for were matrimonial ones. The only game Mr Tsvangirai changed during his time as Prime Minister was scoring own-goals and plenty of them for that matter. Nothing personal against Mr Tsvangirai but the trail is there for all to see.

 The fact that the opposition had this Elective Congress and very few people knew about it or cared less is a telling sign of party with no game to play or change or end-game. Even the MDC-T party itself was not very much interested in its own Congress and the leadership mainly preoccupied themselves with analysing and admiring the ZANU-PF internal politics and so-called succession battles. The only game in Zimbabwean politics right now is found in the ruling party where self-introspection, self-analysis and self-reconstruction is effectively at play. The opposition can only wish for the ruling party to implode but what we are witnessing in ZANU-PF is intraparty politics of uninterrupted self-reflection and growth, a party Constitution that works and works efficiently to draw the line, bring cadres back in line and carry the party forwards not backwards or side-ways, not splitting, spitting or splintering.

In his address Mr Tsvangirai stressed that ‘the protests will force Robert Mugabe to the negotiating table and build consensus on the need for a timetable towards a free and fair election’. What is evidently clear from this statement is that Mr Tsvangirai is looking for a short-cut to another GNU and he is enlisting the masses to shoulder his quest for and pursuit of the petal-littered path towards the trappings and luxuries previously presented to him when he was Prime Minister. The only end-game etched in the opposition minds right now is a return to the GNU and that is why they are not presenting any shadow strategy but rather but rather looking for negotiations into government. 

he elections have been, over and done with and the opposition ought to start presenting their own proposals to counter what the ruling currently has to offer. Let us not confuse this relentless quest for splendour and grandeur of the upper echelons of power with championing and leading demonstrations for this so-called desire for ‘constitutional reforms’. Tsvangirai had five years to clamour for these ‘constitutional reforms’ and he did nothing. This is a man who during his entire five years in the GNU frolicked on the High Seas and we have pictures to prove it. A man who wined and dined with the elites of Western capitals has no game to change because he was changed by the game. The only way unfortunately is via the deep-end.

The ruckus and fracas about friction within the ruling are a smoke-screen to confuse, conceal and throttle the the ZANU-PF led Zimbabwe ground-breaking beginning of economic liberation. That will not succeed as there is only one united ZANU-PF, one united Zimbabwe that will prevail at the end of it all. There is indeed is an invisible hand in all attempts to foil and misdirect Zimbabwe’s path toward real prosperity, real wealth and economic emancipation of her citizens. 

The many principled men and women in the mould of President Robert Mugabe who are the real drivers for African Renaissance have that difficult but essential task of addressing and redressing the inequalities created by the colonial system through empowerment of the indigenous people of Zimbabwe. President Robert Mugabe is an inspiration and even the incoming British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Catriona Laing rightly described him as ‘iconic’. President Mugabe is an icon yes, not an object of aesthetics, but pure substance. He is the glue that binds the nation and the history that will inspire future generations. It is up to the people of Zimbabwe to define who their real heroes are and no amount of modification or moderation is going to change that. 

The heroes who hold that fundamental belief in the African dear to their hearts are there among us. Those who sit on the fence, swaying in any direction the pendulum swings only tarnish the principles and pose a threat to the ideology that holds and has held this country together amidst the external economic and political obstruction. The only game left to change is to forge ahead with the economic emancipation of the people of Zimbabwe. Another GNU as being advocated by Tsvangirai and his party is all games. 

Visit: ZANU PF UK Official Website

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Cde Bernard Bwoni

Deputy Secretary for Admin; ZANU PF UK

It is Cold Outside Zanu PF Cdes

By Nick Mangwana

Makoni found it so cold outside ZANU PF that he became cosy
with the High Priest of Sanctions: Morgan Tsvangirayi

It’s just a few days to Congress. Zanu PF our revolutionary party is undergoing another revolution. Every analyst is speculating what will happen before, during and after congress. Speculators have said that the party will be split, weaken and even go into opposition. Nothing can be further from the truth. We are given examples of political parties that died like UNIP and Malawi Congress Party. The difference between such parties and our Zanu PF is simple; they did not get their independence through a liberation struggle. But that does not mean we should take each other or the people for granted.

People have left Zanu PF and discovered that it is cold out there (quoting a famous professor). So far we had Zanu Ndonga which was a splinter group formed by Zanu’s founding president Ndabaningi Sithole. This party achieved nothing and those that left followed him faded with him and never made a difference to the people of Zimbabwe. Granted, that party got a seat in Chipinge for a few parliamentary seasons, but that is as much as it went.

We then had our former Secretary General, Cde Edgar Tekere forming Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM). Here was a former stalwart with so much clout. But lo and behold his new party only 2 got seats in the House of assembly. Since then the party just suffered a natural a natural atrophy attributable to organisations based on protest and disgruntlement.  After a few years in the wilderness the much liked cde Tekere ended up home. Back in Zanu PF and was subsequently interred at the National Heroes’ Acre. Cde Tekere was arguably a big political player. But he could not be bigger than the party. Outside the Party, Zanu PF he found it cold out there.

Sithole: Outside ZANU PF his party faded into political oblivion

In 2008 a young technocrat who had done a good stint in Sadc, government and another good one in the corporate world left the party. There was a belief that this technocrat had enough political gravitas to shake the party. This was at the height of the sanctions regime. He benefitted from a protest vote after people had endured the eye of the sanctions storm. But for all the hype and ballyhoo he only got 8% of the vote. He had run as an individual. He expected people to vote for him, not because of what he stood for. Not because he had a vision or ideology. Not because he had been chosen by the people. No. None of the above. Because he was Simba Makoni. After the elections he went on to form a party called Mavambo-Dawn-Kusile. He found it cold out there and faded into political oblivion. He now enjoys a very fascinating relationship with the High Priest of Sanctions; Morgan Tsvangirayi. But when it comes to making a difference to the people of Zimbabwe, he has lost what could have been. 

Cde Edgar Tekere (right); Flirted with ZUM and came
back home to ZANU PF

He possibly could have been making immense contribution if he had remained in the fold. However Simba rehove riri mumvura (A fish will only retain its strength if it remains in the water).

he lost the strength he had as happens a fish he leaves water. As it is said in Shona folklore wisdom;

This is a call for unity. 

However it is not a call for the party to be blasé in its treatment of its cadres and leadership. It is also not a call for the party to be indifferent to the needs of our people. We made electoral promises. The people believed us. In those promises we were being sincere. However our sincerity will only be evidenced by our delivery of better outcomes for the people of Zimbabwe. If we fail to deliver those outcomes, at least let us show that we are trying. Right now we will struggle to do that. 

There is now so much suspicion within the rank and file of the party at many levels including cabinet.  The congruence that is needed to push our agenda via Zim-Asset is now scantly witnessed. We are tempting fate cdes. We are taking a very high risk for which we might pay a very high price. This is a high stakes game in which there is so much to gain but and much more to lose.

We shouldn’t condone treachery and betrayal. Betrayal and back stabbing by your own is not only vulgar but the deception is cruel.  By the same token we shouldn’t also betray the trust bestowed upon us by the people to make their lives better. Let us never forget that after all has been said and done, there is life after Congress.

In the same breath we should also say, it is cold out there, so whoever is flirting with leaving the party should learn from history.  Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeating it.  

Aluta Continua.

Visit:  ZANU PF UK Official Website

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Nick Mangwana; ZANU PF UK Chairman

Mind Your Business Chaps

By Nick Mangwana

We note with a knowing smile and rub our hands with glee at the further demise of the amoeba

opposition parties in our country. 

We always never comment. We have always known that they lacked an emotional energy and benefited from a protest vote emanating from the sting of the Sanction Regime they so sadistically called for. Even knowing this much we concentrate on our own business. It is such that we prefer to mind.

We have a few things happening in our party. Whatever the ins and outs of that, the opposition parties have decided that this is their business as well. Really astounding acts of voyeurism.

Surely, when members of one family are having their feuds, debates, or differences what business is it for the village idiot?

Zanu PF is made of congenial cadres and Cdes. We are bound to have fraternal differences. Whilst these may be considered unhelpful at times, we are more annoyed when we start having opposition apparatchiks masquerading as pseudo-experts on Zanu PF affairs.

Why are we having one Prof Madhuku threatening war if Zanu PF power matrices reach one outcome or the other? Shouldn’t he be concentrating on trying to democratically wrest power from us? Shouldn't he also be seeking another project as the constitution is no longer an issue? Is this the way he has decided to maintain relevance and bleed donor funds?

Why are we having one Mrs Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga suddenly appearing on certain forum as an adroit panelist on the outcomes of our power dynamics as if their parties are no more? Oh, of course it is that their parties are inanimate.

They have no history, no ideology and no soul. Should it not be considered a productive use of their

intellect and time to try to find a soul? If ZANU PF cadres call themselves fundis on ZANU PF that of course would make a lot of sense. It however would be considered ridiculous should I suddenly prance around as an expert on the MDC (A-Z).

Sometimes we are flattered when we are vindicated as the only business in town. But there are times when we just find these long noses poking everywhere pretty vexatious.

How can it not be annoying when we have cowards threatening war if our elective processes achieve a certain outcome? People like Morgan Tsvangirayi were old enough to join the war and help liberate the country. He chose to run and help the oppressors by brewing the Baas some tea. Suddenly with bravado he threatens to lead unrest from the front. This would be hilarious if it were not serious.

We laugh for we recall this chap running from his own shadow and using one Western Embassy as a

bolthole. That's why we ask, from whence cometh thine valour Mr Tsvangirayi?

We have always concentrated on making our party fit for the 21 st century and the delivery of our

electoral undertakings. But we cannot ignore idiotic political voyeurism. Parties whose only ideology is Mugabe Must Go! We are surely not interested in their 2 pence worth of opinion. It would do no harm for us to remind these chaps to mind their own business (if they have any).

Mr Biti also threatens war. A man with such a dysfunctional party that no one knows who actually leads it. Is it Mangoma? Is it Biti? Sekai Holland or Sipepa Nkomo? Alas we give up with a knowing smile that it is none of our business.

Whilst that rings true we will not ignore when cowards start beating war drums in feigned bravery which is ostensibly just a bluff. Surely a coward is much more inclined to quarrels than men of spirit.

If these people were brave and wanted to be useful, we would deploy them in seeking for the removal of the sanctions they instigated during one of their many times of treasonous treachery.

Should the ZANU PF business be so much of interest to these chaps, then we invite them to come and buy the card, pay subscription and be conscripted into our Cells. For they have a few things to learn and a lot to atone for. 

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Nick Mangwana is the Chairman of ZANU PF UK. 

He can be contacted on info@zanupf-uk.com

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Visit: The Official ZANU PF UK Website

Beyond ZANU PF Drama and Entertainment : Sound Policies and Strategy

By Nick Mangwana

MY party Zanu-PF has provided the media with so much to write about. What, with so many sound bites and catch phrases entering our lexicon! In the last few months we have been reminded that there is something called “Gamatox”, we rolled our eyes in nostalgic trance. 

Trying to remember what in God’s name that actually is.

This was a follow-up to the boosting of our ontological knowledge through “Weevil/ Chipfukuto”.

For those who are thirsty, there is “Mazoe Crush”. If you missed that one, you definitely now know what a “Lacuna” is. Then to cap it all “Gay Gangsters”! When it comes to our revolutionary party you are never far away from drama and theatre.

But nicely tucked away or flying off the radar in this Zanu-PF word stock are “Value addition and Beneficiation”.

We even had the generosity of giving the phrase to Sadc in August 2014.We felt the region had a few things to learn from us. During the term of our chairmanship of Sadc that will be our catchphrase until the region is in total harmony with it. The reader should try this; Google “Value Addition and Beneficiation”. You are sure to find either Zimbabwe or Zim-Asset coming up in the suggestions. In this I take pride.

We have scored another first. Yes, I say another because we also gave the world “Indigenisation”. The reader is challenged to try that one as well. Zimbabwe will emerge in most, if  not all hits.Why is this important, you may ask?

How does this help feed families?

SADC is adopting a similar approach with
President Robert Mugabe leading the way.

How does this help fulfil those job promises? The answer is in that these are the words at the heart of Zanu-PF policies.

How can it not be important when commercial mining has been happening in Zimbabwe since 1888 and yet Zimbabwe has little to show for it?

This was when that trickster Charles Rudd, acting on behalf of Cecil John Rhodes, used subterfuge to gain exclusive control of Mashonaland and Matabeleland mining rights.

This was the beginning of the exporting of primary minerals from Zimbabwe. We fast forward to this day; Zimbabwe is leading the resource-rich Africa in saying this cannot be allowed to carry on.

The indigenous population needs to benefit from what is extracted from their territories (Indigenisation). But not only that, the mines should process these minerals in Zimbabwe and beneficiate them in Zimbabwe (Value Addition and Beneficiation). This will boost the value of those minerals as well as create downstream industry and employment. Yes, part of those 2,2 million jobs depend on this.

You may not like Zanu-PF. It is your right. But surely, you would struggle to find fault with this policy.By all means, please enjoy our drama and everything else that we do, but you surely would have difficulties in finding any malfeasance in this noble policy. How can you?

Nigeria is one of the world’s top producers and exporters of crude oil.Ironically, it is also a top importer of petroleum and allied products at extortionate rates. How can they solve this absurdity? The only answer to this irregularity is beneficiation.

Cote d’ivoire is the world’s best cocoa producer . Ghana is number 3. Cocoa is the biggest ingredient in chocolate. How many of us have ever eaten a Ghanaian chocolate? In fact, the best producers of chocolate are Switzerland and Belgium. All from imported cocoa beans!

If that situation is not anomalous, then I don’t know what is. Let us bring it closer to home a bit. Zimbabwe has the second largest platinum reserves in the world after South Africa. Are we even in the top ten league of producers of catalytic converters, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts or electrodes?

Are we even producing, dentistry equipment or platinum jewellery? For these are the things that platinum is used for. The answer to these question is not in a yes or no. The answer is value-addition and beneficiation.

Granted there is always a large gap between Government policy and public opinion.So one has to understand the cynicism of some of our compatriots. How can we not empathise with that cynicism, when there seems to be a war of attrition within my party?

We should surely print tickets and start charging for some of this entertainment we provide.

But one clever person said that, the cure of cynicism is to engage honestly. Yes with honest engagement one would notice that behind all the comedy and farce the Zanu-PF Government is addressing these travesties in resource politics.

It has pushed the platinum producers to build a refinery plant.Whenever platinum is refined there are other benefits. Platinum is normally associated with other base metals like iron, copper nickel and cobalt, as well as gold and silver.This list is quite long and includes other metals like iridium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium.

Whilst the drama is keeping some people entertained:
a platinum refinery is being built in Zimbabwe
 in pursuit of Value Addition

Without our own refinery our platinum will continue being refined in South Africa and we will lose the value and benefit of those other products. With more positiveness, one would also notice that there is a policy intent to build a university for Value Addition and Beneficiation.

Surely one cannot find anything amiss with this policy too. I have been asked many times why I am a member of Zanu-PF. The answer for me has been quite easy. Of course, Zanu-PF is all I have been all my life by familial default. But it is policies like these that made me buy my first card decades ago. It is polices such as these that make me pay my subscription every month.

It is these type of empowerment ideologies that gives an opposition party its worst nightmare. For how can one oppose these?

How can you say this is wrong and win an election? If you say it’s not wrong then what are you opposing?

One can contend that, it is the epitome of mediocrity to just to oppose for the sake of having an opposition.

For beyond all the Zanu-PF drama, the fury and sound bites there is a sound policy.

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NONE-BUT-OURSELVES CAN BUILD A SUCCESSFUL ZIMBABWE.

TOGETHER WE CAN

Visit: ZANU PF UK Official Website. 

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    Nick Mangwana is Chairman — Zanu-PF UK . He can be reached on info@zanupf-uk.com

Zimbabwe: Open for Business

International Support for ZIMASSET Economic Blueprint Growing

By Bernard Bwoni

Zimbabwe recently signed exclusive and mega economic and investment deals with China and Russia and the economic outlook for the country is not entirely all downhill and catastrophic. The EU and Britain have been warming up to Zimbabwe and seeking to revive previously strained relations with renewed optimism and readiness to support the government's Zim-Asset economic blueprint. 

Following on from the recent Russian business delegation to Zimbabwe the UK will be sending in an official trade delegation to Zimbabwe. This is a welcome initiative from the British as this will reconnect the two countries by building and rebuilding long-term mutually respectful and mutually beneficial relationships. A transparent United Kingdom is a perfect partner for fast opening Zimbabwean economy and connecting the UK’s established and financial muscle and investment is a requisite part of government’s economic blueprint to ensure and secure the necessary recovery. 


The Zimbabwean government has remained open to all mutually beneficial economic engagement. African companies, British companies, Chinese companies, Russian companies, EU companies, American companies and all companies from across the globe are encouraged and welcome to take up the vast investment opportunities in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean government has thrown wide open the doors for local, regional and international companies to benefit from the massive and wide-ranging investment opportunities in Zimbabwe as set out under the premises of the country’s Zim-Asset economic blueprint.

Business deals have been signed with China

The tone and mutually respectful presentation and entrance by the incoming British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Catriona Laing is a refreshing and positive sign of thawing relationships and a step towards mutually beneficial engagement and celebration of genuine reopening of top-level ties between the two countries. Ambassador Laing was optimistic and shared the government of Zimbabwe’s vision about the robustness of the Zim-Asset economic blueprint and had this to say: 

''We want to build on the very good Zim-Asset economic blueprint that has been developed. We are encouraging our investors to come here, there are many companies in the UK wanting to come to Zimbabwe''. 

The government of Zimbabwe has made it clear that it is open for business to all investors and the call by Ms Laing for British investors to come to Zimbabwe must be lauded. The impending British Trade Delegation to Zimbabwe just like all investment into the country is welcome and the theme of mutually beneficial engagement will continue to prevail. Ms Catriona Laing’s courteous and prudent entry into Zimbabwe deserves nothing short of a warm welcome and hopefully will continue to engage as positively and respectfully as she started.

Russia has joined the scramble to invest in the mining sector in Zimbabwe

The Russians recently clinched a £3 billion platinum deal and a number of companies from that country have been exploring the extensive and diverse investment opportunities Zimbabwe has to offer. The planned British trade delegation to Zimbabwe is clear indication that Zimbabwe is indeed open for business and this is not just one-sided business but benefit for the investor and benefit for the country. This is good for those investing in the country and the communities that made up the Zimbabwe whole.

Zimbabwe is unique in the sense that the country possesses vast mineral resources, agricultural resources, human resources and a sound infrastructure. All these create limitless opportunities for the growth and development of resource-based industrial ventures. With vast amounts of fertile agricultural land, large varieties of commercially exploitable mineral deposits, a highly educated and skilled workforce the potential for growth has no bounds. 

The Government of Zimbabwe values foreign direct investment and actively encourages investors to participate in manufacturing, mining and infrastructure development where there are unlimited opportunities and joint ventures with local investors are also encouraged. The visiting British Trade Delegation to Zimbabwe will see for themselves one of the most developed infrastructures in Sub-Saharan Africa comprising road and rail networks, power generation, telecommunications and distribution networks. Although there is an urgent need to restore and modernise plant and equipment to restore capacity Zimbabwe does possess a solid and complex base which just requires an injection of capital and will see the country take off.

EU companies are ready to come into Zimbabwe? To be honest that is GREAT for Zimbabwe, all investment is welcome and the key is that this remains mutually beneficial business relationships that will empower the communities and ensure the country’s path towards economic transformation progresses. Coming back to the refreshing entry into Zimbabwe by the new British Ambassador Ms Laing, the issue of the economic sanctions against Zimbabwe always raises its ugly and illegitimate head and dampens the ‘refreshing’. 

It is now common to hear some deny the existence of economic sanctions

"The EU is going to review the sanctions next year", said Ms Lang.
Strangely some people believe there are no sanctions against Zimbabwe

against Zimbabwe yet Ms Laing had this to say ''The EU is going to review the sanctions next year in February based on progress made by Zimbabwe''. The ‘refreshing’ is dampened by the end bit where Ms Laing said ‘based on the progress made by Zimbabwe’ and the reason being Zimbabwe has and continues to make progress in working at empowering her citizens and encouraging business into Zimbabwe. The issue of review of the economic sanctions against Zimbabwe should be based on the illegality of the measures and nothing else. 

All that being said that Ms Laing’s polished entry into Zimbabwe remains refreshing until further notice. The Government of Zimbabwe and the UK Conservative Government have always had the cordial relationship and unfortunately that was damaged by the Labour Government of Tony Blair and Ms Laing’s entry has the hallmark of the Zimbabwe-Conservative link from yesteryear.

Mineral rich : Zimbabwe is blessed with an abundance
of a variety of minerals

The emphasis by government of Zimbabwe in ensuring that mining and resource-based companies set up refineries throughout areas of mineral resource endowment is progressive and a sure way towards industrialisation as this will add value to the mineral resource and the country gets more returns. Value addition and Beneficiation are critical for the country as a whole and the communities where mining activities take place as it ensures that jobs stay within the communities and the country and not shipped or exported together with the unprocessed resource away from these communities who sit on these minerals and natural resources. Value addition and Beneficiation will benefit both country and individual communities and that is the only sure way towards real economic transformation and industrialisation. No country has industrialised through exporting raw matte and raw everything. Zimbabwe is on the right path towards genuine economic transformation.

The entry of Russian and Chinese large-scale investment into Zimbabwe will spur the country’s economic  transformation and the revival of British companies’ interest in Zimbabwe will add value to the existing.

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Bernard Bwoni is the ZANU PF UK Deputy Secretary for Admin. 

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Visit: www.zanupf-uk.com ; The ZANU PF UK Official Website : TOGETHER WE CAN