Speaking to the media after the launch of the formal political dialogue between EU and Zimbabwe, EU Head of Delegation to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Timo Olkkonen said Zimbabwe was in the right direction in terms of its reform agenda.
“We have seen that the Government is serious with its reform agenda, and we have seen positive steps taken in terms of Constitutional alignment. New legal proposals are coming up, that testifies how serious the Government is about moving forward, also the fact that there is now staff monitoring programme by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”
Ambassador Olkkonen added that EU has been having good cooperation with Zimbabwe though they were informal. He said this has been the opportune time to launch the formal dialogue.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador James Manzou said the dialogue was meant to build confidence and trust between the two sides, and that all issues would be discussed and nothing would be left out.
Ambassador Manzou also noted that the political dialogue also looked at the issue of sanctions which he said must be removed.
In a joint press statement by Zimbabwe and EU, the two said, “The Government of Zimbabwe and the EU launched the formal political dialogue process in accordance with article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement of the year 2000. The Cotonou Agreement governs relations between the African, Caribbean and the Pacific group, ACP, as it is commonly known and the EU.
“Discussions focused on areas of interest to the Republic of Zimbabwe and the EU which are, inter alia, investment, trade and economic development, climate change and its humanitarian impact, human rights, democracy, good governance, rule of law, development cooperation and regional and international cooperation.”
Ambassador Manzou highlighted that another session of formal political dialogue will be held in November 2019 and they resolved to meet twice annually.
Acting Secretary for Finance and Economic Development, Mr Zvinechimwe Churu, Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabhiza, and acting Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Mr Gibson Chijarira participated in the political dialogue.
