Zimbabwe welcomes EU shift, signals growing diplomatic thaw

ZIMBABWE maintains a non-adversarial foreign policy anchored on friendly relations with all nations and welcomes the European Union's latest decision to remove all remaining sanctions related to travel bans and asset freezes, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira has said.

Delivering a lecture at the Zimbabwe Defence College in Harare yesterday, Prof Murwira said the development reflects Zimbabwe's longstanding foreign policy of constructive engagement and openness to cooperation with international partners.

"Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none. We do not start trouble with any country. We welcome any country that improves relations with ourselves because that's our posture. Our posture in Zimbabwe is non-adversarial; that is our posture; we are non-judgemental," he said.

The European Union announced on Tuesday, following its annual review of restrictive measures on Zimbabwe, that it would lift sanctions relating to travel bans and asset freezes while extending the existing arms embargo for another year until February 20 next year.

The EU has been scaling back financial and economic sanctions in recent years, with the latest measure effectively ending the last of these. The remaining arms embargo is not considered an impediment to improved ties.

Prof Murwira reiterated Zimbabwe's long-held position that unilateral coercive measures not authorised by the United Nations are inconsistent with international law.

"So any country that imposes coercive measures outside the United Nations framework is acting outside established international legal processes," he said.

The removal of travel bans and asset freezes marks a further easing of Brussels' embargo on Harare, which has gradually been scaled back over the years, leaving the arms embargo as the only remaining punitive measure.

Observers say the decision signals the effectiveness of continued diplomatic re-engagement between Zimbabwe and the EU and may help strengthen cooperation in trade and investment.

In a statement, the EU said it remains constructively engaged with Zimbabwe and anticipates stronger bilateral ties.

"The EU remains constructively engaged with Zimbabwe and looks forward to deepening bilateral relations across a broad range of areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment," the bloc said.

Relations between Zimbabwe and the EU have improved significantly in recent years, particularly through structured diplomatic engagement and cooperation under Zimbabwe's debt and arrears clearance programme.

The EU has been part of broader international efforts supporting Zimbabwe's economic reform and re-engagement agenda, including participation in dialogue platforms aimed at resolving external debt and normalising relations with international financial institutions and creditors.

These engagements have helped rebuild diplomatic channels that were strained following the imposition of sanctions in 2002.

The EU first imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in February 2002, including an arms embargo, following political tensions during the Fast Track Land Reform Programme. The sanctions framework was revised in 2011 and gradually adjusted through successive reviews, with most measures removed over time.

The EU said its latest decision reflects its continued assessment of developments in Zimbabwe.