Minister of Foreign Affairs retired Major-General Sibusiso Moyo revealed his foreign policy agenda at a briefing for diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe on Thursday afternoon. In his address to the journalists, Moyo said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government was guaranteeing free, fair and credible elections which will have zero tolerance for political violence in 2018. He also warned the ambassadors to make sure that their countries did not become both players and referees in next year’s elections by being partisan.
The minister talked of international cooperation and mutual respect saying that Zimbabwe was not going to lecture anyone and neither was it going to accept being lectured to. This may have been a reference to the United States of America and the European Union. Both the USA and EU have said that Zimbabwe is not going to get any major financial support unless it implements various electoral and democratic reforms. Said the minister:
We must respect one another.
Moyo said that his mandate was economics and diplomacy. He emphasized that Zimbabwe was willing to engage with other countries and called for counties which had differences with Zimbabwe in the past to bury the hatchet. Said Moyo:
Zimbabwe belongs to the family of nations. Let’s bury our past differences.
The general also said that Zimbabwe was willing to partner with other countries to ensure that it reaches its full economic potential. He reassured the ambassadors that any investments made in Zimbabwe will be safe and will be protected.
We shall continue to partner your nations in the mutual exploitation of our mineral wealth. ….Our manufacturing, tourism and services sector are open to international investors so to create jobs.
We value your participation in the economy and we shall ensure your investments are safe and we will honour all agreements in terms if the law. The right to property shall be respected.