The Sunday Mail
Zimbabwe has made concerted efforts to rebuild strained relations with the European Union (EU) through its engagement and re-engagement drive. The EU was a participant during the Second Structured Dialogue Platform meeting on the arrears clearance and debt resolution process held in Harare a fortnight ago. Our Correspondent, WALLACE RUZVIDZO (WR), sat down with the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Jobst von Kirchmann (JvK), and discussed a range of issues, including efforts to normalise relations between Harare and Brussels.
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WR: Zimbabwe recently hosted the Second Structured Dialogue Platform meeting on the arrears clearance and debt resolution process, where the European Union was among the participants. Can you outline the EU’s response to Zimbabwe’s overtures to service its debt obligations?
JvK: We really welcome this very good initiative, which comes at a very good moment.
I would also like to applaud President Mnangagwa’s initiative to appoint African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina as its debt and arrears champion and former Mozambique President (Joaquim) Chissano as facilitator.
These are two big personalities who could help drive this process forward.
From our side, it is very positive to see such a process taking off and taking off at a high level, but also being underpinned by working groups.
Through this process, we sit down and discuss in detail what the plan is on how Zimbabwe would like to go forward clearing its arrears.
You certainly know that there are three tracks: the economy; good governance, which the EU is co-chairing with the Government; and the last being everything around land issues, including compensation.
WR: Do you think the dialogue platform will help in mapping the way for Zimbabwe to service its debts?
JvK: First of all, I think the high-level dialogue underpinned by working groups is a very good approach. I also applaud the approach on the good governance side.
The Government has put forward its own National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the indicators there are internationally recognised. I think social participants in the last high-level meeting could see that it had a very positive resonance on the stakeholders and creditors, who all applauded this approach.
I have said publicly that basically, with the offer from the Government, the ball is played back in our camp.
So, we now have to look at it and consult our headquarters and we have to sit together in sub-groups and discuss it and rapidly come to a roadmap that allows it to move forward over the coming years.
WR: President Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe will, among other things, prioritise compensation of white former farmers to facilitate the arrears clearance process. What is your view on this undertaking?
JvK: The compensation issue concerns only a small part of US$3,5 billion compared to the overall arrears of US$18,7 billion.
It is an emotional issue on both sides and I think finding a solution for compensation issues will help to pave the way for the rest of the process.
Therefore, I think it’s a very good idea to put this upfront and say I give priority to that issue.
WR: When you presented your credentials to President Mnangagwa last year, you said your mission was to nurture constructive dialogue between Zimbabwe and the EU. Have you succeeded in doing that?
JvK: I hope it is good.
When I look at our rich co-operation since my arrival, I tend to say that its working and that is very positive. I also really believe that the relations that Zimbabwe has with the EU and vice versa, is a relationship that is broad and multifaceted.
It ranges from trade, where we are the fourth biggest trading partner, to investment, where we have over €125 million of foreign direct investment, to development co-operation. We have an ongoing portfolio of development cooperation valued at €530 million, and we have an Economic Partnership Agreement.
I think we now see more and more that this relationship is rich and is about many aspects. I would like to continue doing this in the coming years and, yes, I think we are on a good track.
WR: Can you outline the EU’s position on Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement policy?
JvK: I think, apart from talking about re-engaging, Zimbabwe has also taken concrete steps towards re-engagement.
The efforts on arrears clearance and debt resolution are a good example, as it is a re-engagement with a multitude of partners, sitting around tables and discussing openly.
Another example is Zimbabwe’s wish to rejoin the Commonwealth. These are all tangible proof of this policy. I must say, since my arrival here, I have seen a very constructive working relationship with the Government.
I have met with Government on many aspects, ranging from health to energy; women to agriculture; tackling a whole range of topics, which I think shows we can work well together.
WR: And how important is dialogue between Zimbabwe and the EU with a view to mending relations?
JvK: The worst thing that can happen in a partnership is when people talk about each other and not to each other.
I think we have now started talking to each other. I believe very strongly that dialogue is not only about an exchange of views but it is also about wanting to understand the other side.
It is about us wanting to better understand the Zimbabwean context and about the Zimbabweans to better understand the European context. I think that is very beneficial to a good partnership.
WR: Shortly after you commenced your mission, you mentioned that the EU would pour in €162 million towards investing in greener and smarter agriculture. How much will be invested in Zimbabwe?
JvK: First of all, I have very good news.
It is €207 million and it will all go to Zimbabwe. It is actually what we call a Team Europe Initiative on “greener and climate-smart agriculture”.
This is where, together with the Minister of Agriculture, we looked into the strategic planning of the Government of Zimbabwe in the area of agriculture and we felt that what has been put forward in terms of a climate-smart approach and a greener approach also corresponds to the values of the European Union.
That is why we could mobilise together with our member states and Switzerland that funding. Last Friday, we launched this together with the Minister of Agriculture in the presence of all the ambassadors.
WR: While still on that, can you elaborate more on what the Team Europe Initiative entails?
JvK: We have chosen two areas based on the NDS1. The first being “greener and climate-smart agriculture”, and the other is “gender equality and women empowerment”, which was just launched two days ago (last Monday) with the Minister of Women Affairs.
The idea is that we support Zimbabwe in these areas. As I am always saying, the only people who know Zimbabwe and can find solutions for Zimbabwe are Zimbabweans.
This is why we first look at strategies like the NDS1, which have been developed in Zimbabwe by Zimbabweans. We have chosen to support these two areas of the NDS1.
As regards gender equality and women empowerment, it is to really support women in all areas. It starts off in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), but also helping women play an active role in the social and political life, taking part in decision-making processes and having access to resources.
The second one, which is greener and climate-smart agriculture, looks into how Zimbabwe can get away from being too reliant on the weather and mitigate risks coming from climate change.
This ties in well with Zimbabwe’s strategy to have an agriculture sector that is resilient and leads to less dependence on imports. That finds its way in a lot of activities: drought-resistant crops, irrigation, technical assistance and making use of fertile land in the best possible way.
I think all these elements are part of the NDS 1. We subscribe to it and would like to be part of the way forward by supporting it with our Team Europe Initiative.
WR: Zimbabwe is gearing to hold harmonised elections later this year. In your view, how crucial are these polls in Zimbabwe’s quest for re-engagement?
JvK: I would like to make reference to President Mnangagwa’s pledge for free, fair, peaceful and inclusive elections during last week’s high-level dialogue on arrears clearance and debt resolution. As a representative of the EU, I fully subscribe to what he said because I believe the elections will be a catalyst for a prosperous future.
I think elections, like President Mnangagwa describes them, can be an accelerator in the arrears clearance process.
And I think free, fair, peaceful and inclusive elections will be a trigger to unlock Zimbabwe’s potential, including arrears clearance, and help Zimbabwe become an upper middle-income country by 2030. I think that will be a key moment for the country.
Twitter: @RuzvidzoWallace
