ZANU-PF will, and should, continue to play an important role in Zimbabwe’s future but at the same time MDC-T, MDC-N, and other political parties also have critically important roles to play, United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray said last week.
Speaking on US-Zimbabwe relations, Ray said that the bilateral relationship between the two countries was like a dysfunctional friendship or a faltering joint venture while the people-to-people relationships between the two countries had continued to thrive.
He dismissed talk about Zimbabwe’s ‘re-engagement’ with so-called ‘western’ countries arguing that the two countries had never stopped engaging. Washington had maintained full diplomatic relations and Zimbabwe had always had a full ambassador in Washington.
“I represent an unbroken continuum of ambassadors here dating back to independence. But, given the clear degradation of the quality of our government-to-government relationship, instead of focusing on ‘re-engagement’, I think what is most important now is ‘recultivating our partnership’”, the ambassador said.
“That, I believe, should be the first step in ‘The Future of U.S.-Zimbabwe Relations’. As a first step in that effort, it may be worth debunking some misperceptions and clarifying with complete candour some key perspectives from the U.S. side”:
- The U.S. does not favour any one party over another in Zimbabwe. We want to see an environment where all parties have the same ability to present themselves to the public and to compete to represent the people in government.
- The U.S. wants to see a non-violent and credible electoral contest and for the people’s will to be honoured.
- It is not for the U.S. or any other outsider to dictate or influence who should make up the government; that is for the Zimbabwean people alone to decide. As long as the process is credible and respected, we do not care which party wins. Let me repeat that: “We do not care which party wins, as long as the process is legitimate.”
- The U.S. fully believes that ZANU-PF will, and should, continue to play an important role in Zimbabwe’s future; we are not anti-ZANU-PF and we do recognize the many achievements that ZANU-PF has had over the decades for the good of the Zimbabwean people.
- At the same time, we believe that MDC-T, MDC-N, and other political parties also have critically important roles to play – possibly in leading, but certainly in contributing to the country’s future. We value the role of these parties to ask tough questions, to propose alternative views, and to challenge the way things have always been done.
- We recognize the value of the coalition government arrangement in bringing diverse views together and we respect the government officials who have engaged across party lines to foster Zimbabwe’s current recovery.
- Just as we recognize that there are destabilizing extremist elements in each of Zimbabwe’s political parties, we also recognize that there are progress-minded patriots in all parties across the political divide. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate closely with those committed to building strong national institutions and moving the country forward, and we will continue to work to minimize the negative effects of those intent on circumventing the rule of law.
- We will continue to press for the protection of human rights and accountability for those who abuse them while acknowledge progress where it is made.
- We fully recognize the opportunities presented by Zimbabwe’s current economic recovery and the U.S. is actively working to draw the attention of U.S. business to trade and investment opportunities here.
- Finally, as Zimbabwe’s political parties implement fully the commitments that they themselves have made in the Global Political Agreement, as state institutions are delinked from partisan allegiances, and as credible elections are held and honoured, there will be no reason for the United States to retain our current sanctions policy in place.
Ray said he believed that the future of U.S.-Zimbabwe relations was bright. While the path would not always be smooth, there was no reason why it could not be on a positive trajectory.
“I see our relationship being punctuated not by restrictions or impediments, but by opportunities. The task is for each of us to seize them,” he said. “Whether you prefer thinking about ‘re-engagement’ or ‘recultivating our partnerships’, the first step is dialogue. As the personal representative of President Obama in Zimbabwe, I take very seriously his position of extending an open hand despite past disagreements. The benefits of a better relationship are well worth the at-times-uncomfortable conversations that may ensue. Still, the people of both of our countries deserve better. And so, my message is the same to our closest of friends and to those with whom we have had the most conflicted of relationships”
“If you are coming from a position of sincerity and respect, my hand is open, my door is open, and my mind is open. Let’s have those tough conversations. When we must, let’s disagree, but do so without being disagreeable. When we can, let’s collaborate to advance our common interests. But let us re-open those lines of communication that have closed and rebuild the bridges of mutual confidence that we have allowed to fall into disrepair for the people of both of our great nations.”
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