Ashley Kondo
Zimbabwe is a democracy with a credible and sovereign system of governance which is guided by the country’s Constitution.
However, there seems to be attempts by the United States (US) to redefine the country’s democracy as it continuously seeks to influence and interfere with the country’s justice and governance systems.
The latest demands by the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Matthew Harrington, requesting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Administration to prosecute soldiers implicated in the August 2018 post-election violence as a precondition for the removal of sanctions imposed on the country is regrettable and testimony of the US double standards.
Addressing the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Harrington accused the Government of falling to walk the talk on socio-political reforms.
He argued that Zimbabwe ought to demonstrate that it is serious about improving rule of law and respect for human rights.
Harrington told CSIS that, President Mnangagwa’s Administration should “stop using the Army to harass and intimidate citizens who exercise their fundamental right to free speech, and it could hold accountable those members of the security services who have abused their fellow citizens”.
Ironically, Harrington’s remarks come at a time his boss, US President, Donald Trump, has granted a full pardon to one of his a former soldiers, First Lieutenant Michael Behenna, who was convicted in the 2009 killing of an Iraqi man, Ali Mansur, in American custody.
It has become evident that the US lack the political will to remove sanctions amid increasing pressure from various quarters for them to lift the sanctions.
As such, it is only logical for the US to proffer some reason as to why the sanctions should remain in place, hence they continue to announce fresh preconditions as justification.
It may be recalled that at some point in time, Harrington once demanded that criminal charges against opposition principal, Tendai Biti, who then was accused of inciting post-electoral violence be dropped unconditionally.
According to Harrington, US would announce further sanctions against Zimbabwe if Government did not drop charges against Biti.
While the USA has a big brother mentality and high propensity to interfere in the internal affairs of other nation States, it should do so in regard to territorial integrity of each nation.
Harrington’s remarks do not only undermine the country’s justice systems, but the core values and principles of democracy which the US purport to stand for and champion.
Although Zimbabwe is keen to re-engage and mend relations with developed economies such as the US for the benefit and good of its citizens, it should not bow down to baseless demands by the same.
It would appear that US has a deliberate ploy to set the agenda for Zimbabwe both locally and internationally.
On the side-lines of Harrington’s address at the CSIS, US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian A. Nichols, this week held a “Food4Thought” discussion on “Zimbabwe: the path to prosperity” in Harare.
According to the US Embassy, the discussions would come up with solutions and a way forward to address the problems facing the country.
However, analysts have argued that these discussions were aimed at gauging the mood of citizens, eliciting ideas and unconsciously setting the agenda for unsuspecting civic groups/organs that were invited.
No doubt, the US continue to front a regime change agenda in Zimbabwe and are less likely to heed calls for the removals of sanctions which have become a subtle weapon for de-campaigning Government.
