adminThe visiting Foreign Affairs Committee of the Germany Parliament paid a courtesy call on Cde Khaya Moyo at his Zanu PF headquarters offices.
“From the party point of view, we look forward to see relations getting back to where they were before 2002 because we have no reason to have any quarrel with Germany,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
“We had always considered Germans as good friends since independence, but our relations soured in 2002 when you were sold a decoy by Britain in our bilateral dispute with them over the land redistribution.
“We know you have played a key role during EU debates, but we are also aware that you are bound by collective decisions.”
Cde Khaya Moyo reiterated that Zimbabwe will proceed with its empowerment policies meant to correct colonial imbalances.
Head of the Germany delegation, Mr Stefan Liebich, who is chairman of the Sadc Friendship Group in the Germany Bundestag (Parliament) said his country wanted relations between the two countries improved.
“It is important for us to see relations between the two countries going back to where we were,” he said.
“About sanctions, we have dialogue in the EU and there are points where we may not agree, but we are compelled by collective decisions because it is not possible for us to make unilateral decisions.”
The delegation also met Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and discussed the Global Political Agreement and the elections expected later in the year.
Mr Liebich said Germany was prepared to provide technical assistance to Zimbabwe to conduct free and fair elections.
“We talked about the work being done by the electoral commission and the technical assistance we can give,” he said.
“We are already doing similar programmes in other countries through the EU and the United Nations.
“We emphasised that the elections should go on without violence, but we are not trying to take decisions for the Government of Zimbabwe.”
Mr Liebich reiterated that German believed that sanctions should be gradually removed although they were bound by the EU decision.
The German delegation is scheduled to meet Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa today.
The delegation will go on a tour of other SADC countries from Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter