Western countries, particularly those in the European Union (EU) bloc and the United States of America, often blamed by the Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe regime for the economic collapse of the once prosperous Southern Africa through “sanctions” have thrown caution to wind in hailing the joining into unity government of Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister with Mugabe.
The EU and the United States government slapped what they term “targeted sanctions” on the Mugabe administration in 2002 for “gross violations of human rights and economic mismanagement” but Mugabe in turn has blamed them for attempting to “effect regime change” allegedly through supporting opposition politics.
In a congratulatory statement the EU through its presidency, the Czech Republic in the capital Harare said they welcome the swearing in of Tsvangirai as the Prime Minster of Zimbabwe but said the bloc is ready to support the new government if it shows commitment to observing human rights and signs of stabilizing the economy.
“The EU presidency in Harare welcomes the swearing in of Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe…
“It also stands ready to support the economic and social recovery of Zimbabwe once the new government shows tangible signs of respect for Human rights, the rule of law and macroeconomic stabilization,” said the EU in a statement.
But ironically, 30 prisoners of conscience mainly MDC activists and human rights campaigners remain incarcerated in jail despite earlier demands by Tsvangirai for them to be released before his swearing in.
“It hurts that as we celebrate here today there are some who are in prison. I can assure you that they are not going to remain in those dungeons any day or any week longer,” Tsvangirai told thousands of Zimbabweans at Glamis stadium in Harare soon after his swearing in.
The United States government, through its Acting State Department spokesperson, Robert Wood said they would consider additional development assistance to Zimbabwe once they begin to see signs of good governance and true power sharing on the ground.
“We need to see evidence of good governance and particularly real, true power sharing on the part of Robert Mugabe before we are going to make any kind of commitment,” said Wood.
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing intense economic problems, with runaway inflation, acute food shortages, ascending unemployment at about 90 percent and a cholera outbreak that has since August last year claimed more than 3,000 lives. Both the EU and United States blame the sad scenario on misrule by Mugabe’s regime over the decades.
