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Emmerphoria marks Zimbabwe's policy shift

20 Sep 2018 at 11:40hrs | Views
Who could have ever imagined a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) without former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe… Revered across the African continent and respected at in the West for his unwavering stance against imperialism.

On November 17, 2017, the sun set on Mugabe's reign, marking an historical end to one of Africa's inimitable chapters in African politics.

Mugabe will be fondly remembered for his exquisite diplomacy and unapologetically abrasive posture in dealing with those whom he understood sought to undermine Africa's sovereignty and self-determination.

Mugabe vociferously used the UNGA plinth as the fulcrum from which he launched his tirade against the so called 'marauding' super powers that had sought to derail his tenure at all costs and by all means necessary.

In his final address at the 72nd Session of the UNGA Mugabe drawing the attention of US President, Donald Trump, admonished…

Some of us were, embarrassed, if not frightened, by what appeared to be the return of the biblical Giant Gold Goliath. Are we having a return of Goliath to our midst, who threatens the extinction of other countries? And may I say to the United States president, Mr. Trump, please blow your trumpet - blow your trumpet in a musical way towards the values of unity, peace, cooperation, togetherness, dialogue, which we have always stood for and which are well-writ in our very sacred document, the Charter of the United Nations.

Isolated together with members of his Cabinet, his country placed of debilitating and unjustified sanctions and vilified for speaking out against such heinous misdeeds - Mugabe became the inconvenient tyranny. As was unmistakably elucidated in his speech at the 62nd Session of UNGA…

The British and the Americans have gone on a relentless campaign of destabilising and vilifying my country. They have sponsored surrogate forces to challenge lawful authority in my country. They seek regime change, placing themselves in the role of the Zimbabwean people in whose collective will democracy places the right to define and change regimes. The colonial sun set a long time ago; in 1980in the case of Zimbabwe, and hence Zimbabwe will never be a colony again. Never! We do not deserve sanctions.

A ritual that came to typify and define what some perceived to be the Southern African country's 'foreign policy'.

Today it is his protégé and the incumbent President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, going to be addressing the world leaders at the very same platform, where the Cde Mugabe made his mark against imperialism.
However, MNANGAGWA seemingly appears to be charting a new course, as he unequivocally pointed out in his maiden address in 2017, in regards to the Land Question.

My Government is committed to compensating those farmers from whom land was taken, in terms of the laws of the land. As we go into the future, complex issues of land tenure will have to be addressed both urgently and definitely, in order to ensure finality and closure to the ownership and management of this key resource which is central to national stability and to sustained economic recovery. We dare not prevaricate on this key issue.

Determined to reintegrate the country into global village – MNANGAGWA is certainly poised to use the UNGA plinth to push his Government's agenda of a reformed administration, one that respects human and property rights, amiable to investors, and above all upholds the principles of democracy.
 
His political bravado has definitely enthralled investors and beginning to show positive signs. Aviation expert, Jerry Haas, in a post on the microblogging website Twitter, informed that, "Still some paperwork to be done. Virgin Atlantic set for London-Harare service in 2Q19 using B797 with seasonal London -Victoria Falls - Cape Town on 5th Freedom."

Recently, he set up a Commission of Inquiries after calls from the opposition elements at home and the international community to look into the matter of the post-election violence of 1 August 2018.


All these developments are the essential pillars that are set to give oomph to Government's ethos, "Zimbabwe is Open for Business".

Source - Bruce Zvandasara
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