Belgium to continue advocating for removal of Zim sanctions

Belgium says it will continue to advocate for the removal of the remaining sanctions on Zimbabwe and for the normalisation of relations between Brussels and Harare.

Outgoing and retiring Belgium Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Maricou Johan paid a courtesy call on Vice President Joice Mujuru this Tuesday to bid farewell and told her his country wants to normalise relations with Zimbabwe.

He said bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Belgium are strong, adding that his country will continue to advocate for the total removal of sanctions for the benefit of all Zimbabweans.

Mr Johan, who has been representing Belgium in the region for two and half years said his country has confidence in Zimbabwe, adding that top diamond executives and mining companies from Belgium will next month attend the MineEntra to be held in Bulawayo.

"We will definitely be at the MineEntra because it is our show of solidarity and that we are happy that our mining and diamond firms have ties with Zimbabwe," he said.

Relations between Zimbabwe and Belgium have improved over the years.

Last year, Belgium contributed and supported the delisting of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) on the sanctions list to allow the two countries to trade Marange diamonds.

Over 80 Zimbabwean graduates are said to be working in Belgium universities while a number of non-governmental organisations funded by Belgium are assisting Zimbabwe in the education and health sectors.