News / National
'West can't comment on Zimbabwe's indigenisation': Mutambara
06 Oct 2011 at 05:02hrs | Views
THE United States and its European allies have no moral authority to comment on Zimbabwe's indigenisation programme because they imposed illegal sanctions on the country, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said.
DPM Mutambara said this yesterday after meeting ambassadors from Britain, Germany and Russia at his Munhumutapa Offices.
He first met new British ambassador to Zimbabwe Deborah Bronnert, followed by Russia's envoy Andrey Kushakov and Germany's Hans Gunter Gnotdke.
"By imposing sanctions the British have disqualified themselves to participate or have made it difficult to have useful insights in the programme when sanctions are in place," he said.
"It would be easier for the UK, EU and the US to have insight into the programme if sanctions are removed. It is very difficult for Zimbabwe to engage them on indigenisation when sanctions are there. The moral authority and effectiveness of their discourse is undermined by the existence of sanctions."
DPM Mutambara also told Ambassador Bronnert that the British should listen to African leaders and remove the sanctions.
"In terms of sanctions we told the British that they should take into account views of Zimbabweans, views of South Africa, views from Sadc and the AU. We want them to take into account the voices of Africa in whatever they do," he said.
Over two million Zimbabweans appended their signatures to the anti-sanctions petition while Sadc and the AU have insisted on the need to remove the illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe as part of measures to turn around the economy.
DPM Mutambara said this yesterday after meeting ambassadors from Britain, Germany and Russia at his Munhumutapa Offices.
He first met new British ambassador to Zimbabwe Deborah Bronnert, followed by Russia's envoy Andrey Kushakov and Germany's Hans Gunter Gnotdke.
"By imposing sanctions the British have disqualified themselves to participate or have made it difficult to have useful insights in the programme when sanctions are in place," he said.
"It would be easier for the UK, EU and the US to have insight into the programme if sanctions are removed. It is very difficult for Zimbabwe to engage them on indigenisation when sanctions are there. The moral authority and effectiveness of their discourse is undermined by the existence of sanctions."
DPM Mutambara also told Ambassador Bronnert that the British should listen to African leaders and remove the sanctions.
"In terms of sanctions we told the British that they should take into account views of Zimbabweans, views of South Africa, views from Sadc and the AU. We want them to take into account the voices of Africa in whatever they do," he said.
Over two million Zimbabweans appended their signatures to the anti-sanctions petition while Sadc and the AU have insisted on the need to remove the illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe as part of measures to turn around the economy.
Source - zimpapers
