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UK Minister jets into Zimbabwe for King Charles' birthday
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United Kingdom Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, is expected in Harare this week where he will lead the early celebrations of King Charles III's 75th birthday on Wednesday, June 11.
Although the monarch's official birthday is on November 14, the UK traditionally holds public celebrations during the warmer months due to weather concerns. The annual event, which in London includes the ceremonial Trooping the Colour by the Horse Guards, will be locally marked in Zimbabwe as part of a growing diplomatic thaw between Harare and London.
The visit by Lord Collins is seen as a significant gesture of goodwill and improving bilateral relations following decades of strained ties. The diplomatic rift began in the early 2000s over human rights concerns and land reform policies under former President Robert Mugabe's leadership.
Last month, the UK removed several Zimbabwean officials from its sanctions list, including former State Security Minister Owen Ncube, ex-intelligence chief Isaac Moyo, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, and Sports Minister Anselem Sanyatwe. Also delisted was the Zimbabwe Defence Industries, marking a notable shift in British foreign policy toward Zimbabwe. This follows similar moves by the European Union and the United States to ease restrictions on the southern African nation.
Diplomatic sources confirmed to NewsDay that Lord Collins would arrive in Harare ahead of Wednesday's event. His visit is also expected to include engagements with key Zimbabwean officials, potentially laying the groundwork for stronger economic and political cooperation.
Political analyst Ruben Mbofana linked the visit to recent meetings between Lord Collins and Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube during the African Development Bank summit in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Mbofana said the Mnangagwa administration is eager to restore relations and secure international support, particularly concerning Zimbabwe's global compensation commitments to former commercial farmers.
"Mnangagwa is attempting to revive the policies Mugabe implemented between 1980 and 2000 to safeguard British and white interests," Mbofana said. "However, democracy is on its deathbed. The British have never prioritized human rights; it's always been about protecting their own interests."
Stephen Chan, Professor of World Politics at the University of London, said the UK's current approach is pragmatic rather than strategic.
"The lifting of sanctions was the real policy shift. Courtesies such as this celebration are symbolic, not substantive," Chan said. "Zimbabwe is no longer central to UK foreign policy. Global trade conflicts and security concerns, particularly Russia's actions and tensions in the Middle East, now dominate Britain's agenda."
Chan added that despite perceptions within Zanu-PF, Zimbabwe's relevance on the global stage has diminished, and the UK's re-engagement reflects broader geopolitical shifts rather than a singular focus on Harare.
As Zimbabwe prepares to host the high-profile celebration, the occasion underscores a cautious rapprochement between two nations whose historical ties remain both deeply rooted and politically complex.
Although the monarch's official birthday is on November 14, the UK traditionally holds public celebrations during the warmer months due to weather concerns. The annual event, which in London includes the ceremonial Trooping the Colour by the Horse Guards, will be locally marked in Zimbabwe as part of a growing diplomatic thaw between Harare and London.
The visit by Lord Collins is seen as a significant gesture of goodwill and improving bilateral relations following decades of strained ties. The diplomatic rift began in the early 2000s over human rights concerns and land reform policies under former President Robert Mugabe's leadership.
Last month, the UK removed several Zimbabwean officials from its sanctions list, including former State Security Minister Owen Ncube, ex-intelligence chief Isaac Moyo, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, and Sports Minister Anselem Sanyatwe. Also delisted was the Zimbabwe Defence Industries, marking a notable shift in British foreign policy toward Zimbabwe. This follows similar moves by the European Union and the United States to ease restrictions on the southern African nation.
Diplomatic sources confirmed to NewsDay that Lord Collins would arrive in Harare ahead of Wednesday's event. His visit is also expected to include engagements with key Zimbabwean officials, potentially laying the groundwork for stronger economic and political cooperation.
"Mnangagwa is attempting to revive the policies Mugabe implemented between 1980 and 2000 to safeguard British and white interests," Mbofana said. "However, democracy is on its deathbed. The British have never prioritized human rights; it's always been about protecting their own interests."
Stephen Chan, Professor of World Politics at the University of London, said the UK's current approach is pragmatic rather than strategic.
"The lifting of sanctions was the real policy shift. Courtesies such as this celebration are symbolic, not substantive," Chan said. "Zimbabwe is no longer central to UK foreign policy. Global trade conflicts and security concerns, particularly Russia's actions and tensions in the Middle East, now dominate Britain's agenda."
Chan added that despite perceptions within Zanu-PF, Zimbabwe's relevance on the global stage has diminished, and the UK's re-engagement reflects broader geopolitical shifts rather than a singular focus on Harare.
As Zimbabwe prepares to host the high-profile celebration, the occasion underscores a cautious rapprochement between two nations whose historical ties remain both deeply rooted and politically complex.
Source - NewsDay
