'Zimbabwe needs to respect property rights'

United States Ambassador Bruce Wharton has said Zimbabwe can unleash opportunities by strengthening the respect of property rights in the country.
 
Wharton said foreign businesses make their own decisions on where to do business and investors are attracted by the way government deals with vices like corruption.
 
"The United States has absolutely no interest in a weak Zimbabwe. What is good for the US is stable, functioning governments around the world. ," Wharton said.
 
"Zimbabwe's sovereign policy decisions have had the greatest effect on economic outcomes for this country. Corruption is a problem in all human societies including the US. How it is dealt with sends a strong signal to investors. Corruption can best be dealt with through strong rule of law."
 
Wharton said there was real commercial competition between his country and China but they did not differ in ideology.
 
Wharton said his country would continue looking for ways to normalise relations with Zimbabwe
 
He spoke against violence that recently rocked MDC-T where party deputy treasure Elton Mangoma and secretary general Tendai Biti were assaulted by angry party youths.
 
"Violence has no place in political systems regardless of its source," he said.
 
The ambassador said all human beings deserve human rights, regardless of their sexual orientation.
 
"On gay rights, the debate is on-going but the trend is clear, all human beings deserve their rights. Gay rights are human rights," Wharton said.