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All set for economic boom

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AFTER more than a decade of frosty relations, with no clear sign of a solution or normalcy between Britain and Zimbabwe, efforts at re-engagement are manifesting in a spectacular fashion.
Many are coming to set up base in a Zimbabwe that had been shunned and isolated by politics of vindictiveness by the West led by Britain.
On Wednesday, the nation woke up to the news that a five-member British trade delegation had arrived in the country to explore ways of funding the implementation of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-ASSET).
This is the first British Government-sponsored delegation since the Labour Party leader Tony Blair ruffled Zimbabwe’s feathers when he refused to honour Britain’s obligation to compensate white farmers.
The relations between the two countries took a sharp nosedive.
It was during this period that the reputation of the British was besmirched by poor decision-making by successive Labour Party leaders, until the entrance of the Conservatives’ David Cameron. 
Zimbabwe and the Conservative Party enjoyed cordial relations in years gone by.
Unlike members of the Labour Party, many Conservatives have properties in Zimbabwe which they like to protect.
At the climax of the liberation war, the Labour Party led by Prime Minister Harold Wilson, failed to find a solution that would bring about majority rule.
This was left to Conservative PM Margret Thatcher, who brought the warring parties to the negotiation table at Lancaster House.
It was with the Conservatives that Zimbabwe struck a deal with Britain to compensate white farmers during the Lancaster House Conference.
History has repeated itself with the Conservatives walking the same direction with Harare.
The coming of the British delegation points to a possible normalisation and restoration of relations between the two nations.
The new British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Catriona Laing, who is leading the delegation since presenting her credentials to President Robert Mugabe a few weeks ago, has been sending somewhat positive signals.
Ambassador Laing has not only spoken strongly of restoring relations with Harare, she has also spoken highly of President Mugabe and has brought the business delegation.
But whether the decision to come to Zimbabwe was based on British fears of the mega deals Harare signed with China and Russia in the recent past or not, is debate for another day.
Had there been other realistic investment options for the British to explore, then the coming of the Chinese and Russians may have meant nothing to them, but the attractions of Zimbabwe and fear of losing out on business opportunities, are compelling for Britain to ignore and let go.
We shouldn’t be surprised though.
The British love Zimbabwe.
They are jealous of letting this country fall, some of their natives call ‘home’, into the hands of other nations, to borrow from their diction.
Zimbabwe has only recently returned from a more than decade long economic hiatus that was worsened by the Inclusive Government.
Most importantly its return coincides with the anticipated economic boom in the Southern African region.
The British noticed this long before the historic July 31 2013 elections, hence their efforts to re-engage Zimbabwe soon after President Mugabe’s thumping of Morgan Tsvangirai in the watershed elections.
This is why in September, the Chatham House: The Royal Institute of International Affairs invited the Zimbabwe Government which was represented by Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, to London.
In London Ambassador Mutsvangwa said the fallout between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom was a ‘blessing in disguise’.
“While the fallout between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom was totally unnecessary, it could yet turn out to be a blessing in disguise,” said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.
“Of course there is a caveat in keeping with new times.”
Of importance the reality confronting several Western nations is that a new age is dawning in Zimbabwe.
It is an age of unprecedented economic development.
A pointer to this banal fact is the areas the Chinese, the Russians and Britain have all earmarked to put their money in.
All of them have set their eyes on investing in energy, infrastructure rehabilitation and development and mining.
Information gleaned by The Patriot from highly placed sources this week indicates that the coming of the British will be followed by several high powered delegations from France, Canada, the United States and Denmark in the coming months.
It also emerged this week that Pepsi and Microsoft plan to open a plant in the country and mobile service provider Sony Ericsson wants to restart its operations.
To cap what should be a resoundingly successful week for Zimbabwe, tomorrow the European Union meets in Brussels to set in motion processes for the complete removal of the illegal economic sanctions against Harare.
The removal of the sanctions coupled with the coming of a technical team from China in the next two weeks will set the ball rolling for ‘an economic boom that has never been witnessed in recent memory’, a diplomatic source said.

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