US assessment of ongoing reforms great
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa set the country on a reform path as soon as he assumed office in November 2017. He, through his Government, has been putting in place a range of economic and political measures meant to ease tensions among the people in the country, deepen democracy, and attract foreign direct and local investment. The reform agenda also includes rapprochement with the international community after about 17 years of frosty relations between our country and some countries in the Sadc region, Africa, Europe and America.
A number of restrictive laws have been relaxed, while work is in progress to review others. For example, the indigenisation law, which was blamed for frustrating foreign direct investment, was relaxed to allow foreign investors to register companies here and operate them alone without the need to have indigenous blacks as fellow shareholders. In addition, the Government is running the economy in a more responsible manner by curtailing expenditure, loosening its grip on the exchange rate and putting attention on how to manage and repay the national debt.
Opposition parties and their leaders enjoy more freedoms now than prior to November 2017 while the conduct of elections is now more transparent. Unlike before when public order laws were interpreted and applied strictly, the opposition was allowed to hold meetings, campaign or demonstrate
freely in the run-up to the 2018 elections. Thus, that election which attracted possibly the highest number of observers since 1980, was widely described as the freest and fairest in 38 years.
Still on political reforms, the Public Order and Security Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act are being worked on with a view to making them more democratic.
Indeed, every effort is being made to make them better for, first and foremost, Zimbabweans, on which basis our country would project an orderly image to engender greater co-operation from partners from abroad.
The Government must be encouraged that even its staunchest critic on the international stage, the United States of America has noted the reforms being implemented and has some positive remarks to make about that progress. The people of Zimbabwe who want the best for themselves and their country must be encouraged too.
United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Brian Nichols is quoted in the latest issue of our sister paper, saying:
“This Government has been working towards reform. I have been impressed and I have always said so . . . I know that the Cabinet has approved the principles for the repeal of POSA (Public Order and Security Act) and has been discussing repeal of AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act) and those are all very positive things,” he said.
“I think that there is great urgency both politically and economically to continue down the road of reform as this administration has laid out, and we encourage them to pursue those reforms as well as to address the outstanding recommendations . . . All of this is very positive and I believe that if this Government pursues them, the international community will respond.”
He added: “I think there is a lot of interest. I was in South Africa a couple of weeks ago and met with a number of US companies interested in doing business in Zimbabwe. One of the key challenges (they cited) was with the exchange rate. I encourage the Government to continue the process of liberalising the exchange rate and allow the allocation of forex-based market principles. I think that will deepen the ability of companies to do business here. --The (ease) of doing business legislation that Government has put forward is a positive step and should be adopted rapidly.”
President Mnangagwa has always said his Government wants cordial relations with all nations of the world. His message has been largely well received across the globe. Britain and the European Union, from which London is trying to disengage, have received the message well too and positive signals are coming from that part of the world. However, the US appears to have maintained its old, rigid stance against our country with some unhelpful rhetoric and intensification of its sanctions on Zimbabwe. Even as Washington has been so unchanging, President Mnangagwa and his Government have not responded in equal measure, insisting that reengagement with that country will be made.
He has made it clear that the country will step up measures to reposition itself. The inhibitive security laws are on the way out; economic reforms are gathering pace so is the engagement and reengagement process.
We are realistic to point out that it is very, very early days yet but we have reason to believe that soon, our country and the US will find each other so that a mutually beneficial relationship can be restored and blossom. The removal of sanctions will be key in that future we want.