As the EU resolved to keep some of their restrictive measures on Zimbabwe, the question which remains unanswered is, are they really necessary? The EU restrictive measures came into effect in 2002 after the adoption of the EU Council Common Position of 18 February 2002, concerning restrictive measures against Zimbabwe (2002/145/CFSP) and the US targeted Sanctions effected through the Zimbabwe Democracy And Economic Recovery Act Of 2001 (ZIDERA). The ZIDERA was the first to come into effect and Zimbabwe was under sanctions from that moment. The ZIDERA categorically stated that the aim of the policy was for the United States of America to support the people of Zimbabwe in their struggle to effect peaceful, democratic change, achieve broad-based and equitable economic growth, and restore the rule of law. This to me is an infringement on the sovereign rights of Zimbabwe as a nation.
With the EU, their borne of contention was on elections for 2002 which the then President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe barred their participation as observers together with the USA. They all attributed to the reason that there was gross human rights in the country and they wanted to force the government to adhere to the rule of law first before the sanctions or restrictive measures could be uplifted. All hell broke loose and the country suffered from the isolation as the EU and the US were now on a mission to discredit Zimbabwe as a safe destination for travel and investments.
One of the reasons stated in the finding report of ZIDERA was and I quote ‘through economic mismanagement, undemocratic practices, and the costly deployment of troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC), the Government of Zimbabwe has rendered itself ineligible to participate in International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Monetary Fund programs’. With the need to restore legitimacy in the DRC after the assassination of its President Laurent Kabila , it was agreed upon at the Lusaka Declaration that there was need for SADC to intervene. Zimbabwe volunteered to participate in the DRC in the spirit of brotherhood and in solidarity with the Congolese. One wonders why it was an issue with the Americans to be included in their ZIDERA .
The issue is all about why they were imposed on the country. With all the efforts of re-engagement having been done by the current government there was need for a reciprocating attitude from the western countries. Zimbabwe have been under sanctions for the past two decades and they have impacted negatively on the people’s lives. The sanctions and restrictive measures have outlived their lifespan its time they are removed unconditionally.
The challenges emanated mainly from the rift which occurred during this time erupting from the land redistributive policy. The policy sought to correct the imbalances in terms of land ownership which were inherited from the colonial era. With the failure of the willing buyer, willing seller and the failure by the British to honor the funding for the land reform the government was left with no choice but to embark on land appropriation without compensation. The program was a success although it requires some tweaks here and there for smooth sailing.
One of the conditions which were stated in ZIDERA directed for the government of Zimbabwe to follow the recommendations of the 1998 International Donors’ Conference on Land Reform and Resettlement which would have resulted in the failure of the programs. With its challenges, the land reform is not reversible and should be stated clearly. These sanctions have caused untold suffering on the people of Zimbabwe whom the imposers of sanctions propagate to defend. Both the restrictive measures and the targeted sanctions have affected the inflow of the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country. If the US and EU are sincere that they are doing all these measures for the benefit of the people in Zimbabwe, they need to remove their measures now and unconditionally. The people have suffered enough. SADC has spoken with one voice. African Union has spoken with one voice. Zimbabwe EU restrictive measures and US targeted sanctions must be removed unconditionally
The Art of Politics 