Zim commits to improved EU ties

Wallace Ruzvidzo Herald Reporter

Zimbabwe is committed to improving relations with the European Union (EU) and appreciates the bloc’s efforts in charting a new path, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Ambassador Frederick Shava has said.

Speaking at an event to celebrate Europe Day in Harare last night, Ambassador Shava said continuous improvement of relations between Zimbabwe and the European bloc would be exponentially beneficial to Harare and Brussels.

He said Government was instituting people-centred policies which would see the betterment of Zimbabweans’ livelihoods.

“My Government appreciates the European Union’s commitment to charting a new positive trajectory towards improving our relations,” said Ambassador Shava.

“We appreciate these efforts and hope that we will continue to enhance the relations between the Government and the European Union for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

“Let me assure you that the Government of Zimbabwe is committed to improving the lives and livelihoods of its citizens through the implementation of comprehensive and system-wide reforms across all spheres of life and sectors of our economy, and we applaud the European Union’s support in that endeavour.”

Government, he said, was grateful for support rendered by the EU to ensuring free and fair polls.

“In the coming few months, Zimbabwe will hold harmonised elections as testimony of our commitment to democracy and democratic processes,” said Ambassador Shava.

“We have no doubt that the masses of our people will come out in their millions, as in previous plebiscites, and participate in electing their leadership in peace and freedom.

“We also appreciate the support that the European Union has extended to the Zimbabwe electoral process, particularly earmarked for the 2023 harmonised elections. This support will go a long way in facilitating the work of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in delivering its mandate.”

In his remarks, EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst Von Kirchmann said the bloc was committed to ensuring Zimbabwe succeeded in its quest for an upper middle income economy by 2030.

“As the EU, we want Zimbabwe to succeed in its Vision 2030 and I believe the recent platform for arrears clearance and debt resolution which was pushed forward and initiated by the Government of Zimbabwe is a fantastic process,” he said.

“I would like to commend Government for their leadership and ownership of this initiative.”

Ambassador Von Kirchmann said free and fair elections would be a step in the right direction as relations between the two continue to thaw.

“Since my arrival, we have a very good exchange, you have launched an inclusive process and that includes civil society and international organisations,” he said.

“I think we now have a genuine desire to understand each other so we stopped talking about each other and we are now talking to each other. The upcoming harmonised elections will be a great opportunity to accelerate this process.”