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the removal of the West’s economic sanctions regime in the same manner apartheid was defeated in South Africa. Speaking to journalists in Harare after a two-hour meeting with President Mugabe at his Munhumutapa Offices yesterday, Rev Jackson said it was time Zimbabwe and the US built bridges. The meeting was the second such encounter in a month after the two met in Kenya a few weeks ago.
“Just as we worked hard to bring down barriers within our own country, most of those barriers are down. We worked hard in bringing down barriers in apartheid South Africa. Those barriers are down. We will work to bring barriers down on sanctions because it is the right thing to do and it is mutually beneficial. We are anxious for sanctions to end . . . We will not be satisfied until the barriers are removed between our two great nations,” he said.
Rev Jackson’s visit comes in the wake of the recent visit by former US ambassador to the UN Mr Andrew Young who delivered a conciliatory massage from US President Barack Obama. Rev Jackson said American businesses were eager to invest in Zimbabwe, especially in the mining sector. He said Zimbabwe and the US must find ways of working together to remove sanctions.
Rev Jackson acknowledged that the land question was the source of the current impasse between Zimbabwe and many Western nations.
“Some focus on the land reform was not honoured and have been a source of struggle,” he said.
Rev Jackson said his visit was solely focused on “reconciliation, investment and growth”.
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“We are not engaging in local politics. It is your own democratic right,” he said.
Rev Jackson, who was accompanied by his family and US ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Bruce Wharton, also spoke on the pending harmonised elections, saying all eyes will be on Zimbabwe as he underscored the need for a peaceful, credible and transparent election.
Rev Jackson described his meeting with President Mugabe as “very fruitful” and applauded the Head of State and Government and Zimbabweans for the significant role they played an ensuring a free South Africa during its fight against apartheid. He said Zimbabwe had “maintained a will to democracy” after a bitter struggle for independence.
Rev Jackson is expected to visit the Victoria Falls today.
The concerted re-engagement efforts by the MDC-T’s Western allies coupled with several surveys that pointed to a resounding Zanu-PF victory in the harmonised elections have triggered panic at Harvest House, prompting party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai to run into the region in search of new alliances.
The MDC-T leader, who has been receiving a bashing from major Western media, announced that he would be lobbying Sadc leaders and the AU to pressure President Mugabe to postpone harmonised elections due on or before June 29 to implement “reforms”.
Online Reporter