By Eunice Masunungure

ONE of the winning elements by the New Dispensation has been its re- engagement of the West in an effort to end Zimbabwe’s isolation from the community of nations and rectify the current economic estrangement facing the country.

However, there are misconceptions around the country’s re-engagement thrust.

Re-engaging the West is not the Government’s attempt to hinge the country’s economic prospects of Zimbabwe on the West.

It is not an implication that ZANU PF is fast-becoming important in the sight of the West nor does it mean Zimbabwe will be a colony of the West again.

The historical comes into play.

Media analyst Hopewell Mauwa argues current efforts to re-engage the West trace back to history in which nations in reality primarily act in their own economic interests, and continuously re-evaluate worthiness of alliances along the process.

“Transfer of white-owned enterprise to indigenous blacks triggered the whole escapade.

“The 2000 Land Reform Programme, which led to transfer of white-owned enterprise to indigenous blacks effected the economic Western policy of isolating Zimbabwe.

“Moreover, China’s influencing the African countries economy affected Western financial system.

“Moreover, MDC Alliance’s failure to win elections in 2013 demotivated their funders who felt they could not continue funding losers.

“Moreover, the British citizens opting to exit European Union triggered the urgency to anticipate for economic risks and British rethinking of global economic ties.

“Lastly, when former President Robert Mugabe resigned, the Westerners who hated him and considered him a threat found it worthwhile to re-engage Zimbabwe.”

Therefore, Zimbabwe’s re-engagement of the West is aimed at mending the fragile relations existing between the State and the West.

Although the economic aspect of the reforms in Zimbabwe seem to be slow, President Mnangagwa’s administration has made considerable progress on political, economic and legislative reforms.

In his congratulatory message to Boris Johnson, who was appointed British Prime Minister on July 24 2019, President Mnangagwa said he was looking forward to working with him and his administration in rebuilding a “once-formidable bilateral relationship.”

Since his investiture, President Mnangagwa has made efforts to normalise the relations with the West particularly countries like Sweden, Australia, the UK, Germany, US and France.

“Reforms were in line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) and Vision 2030.

“A key component of those reforms is re-engagement with all those nations from which we have become somewhat estranged over the past two decades or so.

Rebuilding our relations with the United Kingdom lies at the very core of that re-engagement process and is an objective to which I and my Administration are fully committed.

We are of course, equally committed to an early re-administration to the Commonwealth family of nations, a process which is already underway.”

Emphasis is made on the need to heal the relations between Zimbabwe and the West for the benefit of Zimbabweans.

The purpose of the re-engagement process is to bring normalisation to the country vis-à-vis all lines of communication.

While Zimbabwe has long since shown signs of possible recovery, it needs stakeholders to boost the confidence of potential investors and multi-nationals through having singleness of heart.

The present Government has achieved recognition by the European Union during their time.

It must be remembered that the European Union sent an Election Observer Mission for the July 30 2018 harmonised elections, a first in 16 years.

Moreover, May 2019 Cotonou Partnership Agreement reveals that Zimbabwe and the European Union hold political dialogues.

Re-engagement of the West means bringing everyone on board such that Zimbabwe can easily achieve Vision 2030 and create an upper middle-class economy through full participation of the masses, the Government, the opposition parties and the Diaspora community.

It is beneficial economic repairable efforts by the former coloniser and the ex-colonised.

Re-engaging the West means renewed emphasis on creating ease access, cooperation and a conducive investment environment for thousands of Zimbabweans living abroad.

In re-engaging the West efforts, Diasporas are encouraged “to take advantage of the gaps in sectors like energy sector and make money out of our current economic challenges.”

In challenges lie opportunities to be harnessed.

It also entails accepting the leader of the time and rally around him as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Lt Gen (Rtd) Dr Sibusiso Moyo

said on July 25 at the United Kingdom-based think-tank:

“If an opposition candidate is victorious in the elections, President Mnangagwa is prepared to accept.

“Political contestation must not override national interests.

“People can come and go, but the state is more important.”

He added that Mnangagwa’s government was comfortable working with non-governmental organisations and charities, particularly in the health and education sectors.

“Non-Governmental Organisations and charities, especially in the areas of health and education, are very much welcome.

“We want to rebuild Zimbabwe from all dimensions and our Diaspora and social networks are important to that end,” Moyo said.

Post-colonial researcher Stephen Slemon (2003) says:

“At the level of the local, and at the level of material applications, the modern society must address the material exigencies of colonialism and neo-colonialism.”

The current re-engagement of the West speaks to that attempt to avail quantifiable necessities for Zimbabweans.