In a bold yet controversial move, Kimberley Process Chairman Mathieu Yamba of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has authorized Zimbabwe to resume exports of its rough diamonds, including back stock, IDEX Online reports. In a recent letter to Kimberley Process members, Yamba said that all unresolved issues surrounding Zimbabwe’s diamonds (which unfortunately are many) [...]
Amnesty International and a conglomeration of human rights activists have stated that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union have betrayed the people of Zimbabwe by ignoring human rights abuses by President Robert Mugabe’s supporters while paying lip service to implementation of political reforms. Amnesty International Africa director Erwin van der Borght [...]
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono has warned multinational banks currently operating there that they would suffer consequences if they refuse to write loans to ZANU-PF officials or others on Western sanctions lists in another fantastic example of civility in the face of foreign fiscal trepidation. In a monetary policy statement posted to the [...]
The Zimbabwean government has recently opened its long awaited one-stop shop investment centre that is expected to reduce the registration period from the current 50-plus days to only 11 in an effort to reel in foreign and domestic investment long stifled from a paralyzed joint government. Besides failing to woo investors to the country because of [...]
Its an interesting public relations tactic – Zimbabwe’s indigenization laws equate to radical political action which immediately hinders foreign investment, and to counter this clear trend, the Gov’t issues a press release that the aim of such action is to encourage investment security through indigenous participation. Why haven’t we heard this before? Why has the [...]
Jacob Zuma has surprised many in his role as mediator between the factions that comprise the Zimbabwean government. But even he nor the SADC can stop what seems to be a cyclical pattern that occurs when progression leads to a slowed inflation rate – Mugabe views it as cause for political capital and makes bold, [...]
The shooting at point blank range of another farmer in the Selous district of Zimbabwe again highlights the deteriorating situation currently being faced in the rural farming areas and acts as yet another warning of severe pre-election violence ramping up and hindering the lifting of EU sanctions and returning foreign interest. This is a symptom [...]
European Union supremo Herman Van Rompuy today stated the bloc was ready to take a fresh look at sanctions against Zimbabwe, pending political developments, one of which Zimbabweans speculate to be the reappointment of MDC Treasurer Roy Bennett. Speaking at an EU-South Africa summit, Van Rompuy noted Zimbabwean moves to create a new constitution as part [...]
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai stated last week that a law to increase local black ownership of foreign firms would be implemented gradually and without forced sales. Ultimately, his staff have reiterated sentiments that investment is returning and that ‘Zimbabwe is back‘. Zimbabwe’s government published regulations earlier this year forcing foreign-owned firms, including mines and [...]
In response to international clamors for justice, Zimbabwe’s president today ruled out prosecuting those behind the 2008 violence and killings which engulfed the country and accounted for about 200 deaths. “We have embarked in earnest on the process on a national healing and integration, for the sake of our children and prosperity,” President Robert Mugabe [...]
