Britain fully behind us – Shiri
Kenneth Marimaire Own Correspondent
BURMA VALLEY — Britain fully backs the new Zimbabwe government and its economic turnaround efforts, Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri (pictured) has said.
He said Britain had expressed its support and confidence in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration by making available a $100 million grant to support Harare’s industrialisation drive.
Shiri’s remarks come at a time when London and Harare are mending relations following the military assisted ouster of Robert Mugabe in November last year.
Opposition critics have, however, accused the country’s former colonial master of warming up to Mnangagwa, which they said posed far reaching consequences for Zimbabwe’s democratic space ahead of the crucial July 30 election.
Shiri said Britain had invested heavily in its former colony and was also seriously affected by sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe following the 2000 land expropriations, which he acknowledged as the source of Harare’s economic woes.
Noting that unlike America and other European countries, Britain had made an about-turn to back Harare following the ouster of Mugabe.
“It was a necessary evil that we had to do in as far as land reform is concerned. The land reform cause all the problems that we have been facing because of the backlash from those who were against us taking back our land. We were punished as a nation, collective punishment; those who benefited and those who did not. We endure the pain up to today.
“I was reading in the press recently that Britain has availed $I00 million to our government to support the revival of industry. What this means is that when sanctions were imposed. British was the most affected because it is our former colonial power and its kith and kin had many investments here. It had mobilised Americans and the whole of Europe to impose sanctions but now it is in the forefront of doing away with them. It is a sign to other countries in Europe and to America that they are falling behind as Britain is now fully behind Zimbabwe,” the minister said.
Shiri said the new stance by Britain is a result of the good leadership Of Mnangagwa, who is on a massive crusade to re-engage the Western world.
The over $11 billion investment commitments by foreign investors were evidence that the global community had made peace with Harare, he added.
British Foreign Affairs Minister Boris Johnson and several influential officials have stated that UK is eager to assist Zimbabwe rebuild its economy.