Dear Madam Ambassador,

LET me start by joining millions of Zimbabweans in welcoming you to Harare.
You are most welcome Madam Ambassador!
It is my hope that by now you have had a feel of the hospitality of Zimbabwe.
It was heartening to learn that you told President Mugabe that working in Zimbabwe was your ‘dream’ job and that you looked forward to working and travelling widely to see the real Zimbabwe and meet people from all over the country.
Madam Ambassador, you have come here at a crucial time in the history of our country.
You have come at a time when Harare is slowly but certainly regaining her feet on the economic front through the China and Russia mega deals.
You have come at a time when the process of shaking off the effects of the illegal economic sanctions your country called for to be imposed against Zimbabwe has begun in earnest.
In the same vein you come at a time your country is stuck between a rock and a hard place on the sanctions issue.
We have been made to understand that your government has been given an October 13 ultimatum by the House of Commons to make a determination on its position regarding the European Union (EU) illegal economic sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe.
The decision by your country has to be made before a meeting set to review the widely discredited embargo in Belgium next month.
While it is too early to pre-empt the British position on the sanctions, there are several indicators on the positive.
The first instance, is your government’s decision to fund a high powered Trade Mission, the first in more than a decade to look at areas of investment in Zimbabwe.
This is a positive signal that our Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa spoke about during his presentation at the Chatham House: The Royal Institute of International Affairs a few weeks ago.
We need positive signals not negative energy that manifests itself through the continued existence and maintenance of the illegal economic sanctions against our country.
We need investment not hostility.
We need friends not enemies.
Most importantly we need partnership on equal terms not exploitation.
Let me emphasise once again that you have started on a good note Madam Ambassador.
Second is another positive signal taken earlier this year by the European Council when it unanimously agreed to completely remove illegal economic sanctions when they meet in Brussels.
Madam Ambassador you come to a Zimbabwe whose economy has been battered by the illegal economic sanctions the West imposed on us after the UK accosted them.
You come to a peace-loving Zimbabwe that is driven by the hunger and desire to succeed as one people.
You come to a Zimbabwe that is blessed by a sound leadership that is complemented by a hard working people.
It is in light of these compelling facts that we hope that as you send your briefings to London you tell your superiors that Zimbabweans do not need sanctions.
They need to be treated as key players in the global political economics.
Indeed we have demonstrated our capacity to be a force to reckon with through our fierce resistance to the sanctions.
“The UK is already undertaking important confidence building measures and if reciprocated on the Zimbabwe side, we hope we can continue to build our relationship. For example, we are strengthening business links and to show our commitment to this, the UK is sending a Trade Mission – our first in many years later this month to understand how UK skills and expertise in various sectors can support Zimbabwe’s future developmental and economic goals,” you said after presenting your credentials last week.
We have already, Madam Ambassador, undertaken important confidence building measures by advising you to respect our programmes, in particular the land reform and resettlement programme- the root of your country’s hostility against us.
We will reciprocate positively to anything that does not compromise our position on matters of national sovereignty.
We will equally reciprocate on issues that bring about balance and equality in terms of trade and investment and respect for our laws.
Our economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim ASSET), while requiring foreign investment, at the same time has laws that need to be respected.
So yes we will reciprocate, if only we are treated with the respect that we deserve.
I am impressed that you have embraced Zim ASSET.
“UK and other international investors see opportunities in Zimbabwe but need reassurance that the rule of law prevails and that the environment is predictable. If there is progress on this, and the government is able to articulate this to investors, it will encourage more investment into Zimbabwe,” you said.
Other important first steps that the UK has taken include: trebling the number of Chevening Scholarships to be awarded to Zimbabweans in the next academic year, fostering cultural and education links through the British Council, and the continuation of UK’s developmental support to Zimbabwe valued at US$117 million being channelled through the Department for International Development (DFID) to reach millions of Zimbabweans, particularly women and children.
It is my hope that your stay will bring a different dimension to the Zimbabwe and Britain relations.

Yours
Golden Guvamatanga