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Zimbabwe

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Map of Zimbabwe Last updated: 19 June 2009

 

 

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Zimbabwe generally has good relations with its neighbours. SADC (Southern African Development Community) members have not publicly confronted Zimbabwe on humanitarian, human rights and related political issues, although the Presidents of Tanzania, Botswana and Zambia have been critical of Mugabe in the past.  Others, particularly Mozambique, South Africa and Namibia have been reluctant to speak out, largely because of historic loyalties.   In early 2007, South Africa's president Mbeki was charged by SADC with mediating in Zimbabwean politics, in preparation for the 2008 elections. Following the MDC’s withdrawal from the second round of the elections due to ZANU(PF)-perpetrated violence against their supporters, the SADC continued to negotiate a power-sharing agreement.  Under pressure from South Africa, Tsvangirai agreed to sign the agreement in February 2009.  The SADC remains responsible for ensuring the agreement is implemented fairly, and for providing initial financial support to the new government.  The African Union (AU) has endorsed the SADC’s lead on Zimbabwe.  The South Africans in particular are keen to see the power-sharing agreement work.  Not only did President Mbeki act as the broker between Mugabe and Tsvangirai, but there are up to three million Zimbabwean refugees still living in South Africa.

Outside of SADC, relations with the rest of Africa are primarily handled in the context of the AU. Zimbabwe's straitened economic circumstances, and relative international isolation, have inhibited its participation in continental and international political programmes such as peacekeeping.

Defence relations with donors began to sour in 1997, when an arms embargo was imposed by the EU in response to Zimbabwe's intervention in DR Congo. Political relations declined rapidly after 2000 because of ZANU-PF's political and economic programmes, particularly the seizure of land, the introduction of repressive legislation and increasing violence against its political opponents. In 2002 the EU introduced targeted measures in the form of an asset freeze and travel ban on individuals and entities associated with the violence and human rights abuses of the Mugabe regime. These measures have been renewed and extended annually, most recently in January 2009. These measures do not hurt ordinary Zimbabweans, nor does the EU  have any economic sanctions against Zimbabwe.(see "EU Common Position" below).

In 2004, Mugabe announced a 'Look East' policy, primarily intended to revive Zimbabwe's economy in the absence of investment from elsewhere. Close relations with China and Iran in particular are being cultivated under this policy, China is now Zimbabwe's second biggest export market (by value) after South Africa, but Chinese investors are reluctant to risk capital in the country.

Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in December 2003 following its suspension in 2002.

Southern Africa Development Community

African Union

EU Common Position

Bilateral Relations with the UK

Visits

UK concerns about the Mugabe government's policies meant there was no high-level contact.  This changed when the MDC entered into the power-sharing agreement and the Foreign Secretary welcomed Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, to a meeting in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in April 2009.  This was the first meeting between British and Zimbabwean Ministers since April 2000.  In May 2009 the Minister for Africa, Mark Malloch-Brown, met Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Foreign Minister Simbarashi Mumbengegwi in South Africa.  Most senior members of ZANU-PF are prohibited from visiting the UK by the EU travel ban currently in place.

UK Nationals

There are approximately 10,000 UK nationals registered with the British Embassy in Zimbabwe.

Cultural Relations

The British Council Zimbabwe is the focal point for cultural relations between Britain and Zimbabwe.

Policy

For recent statement of UK policy towards Zimbabwe enter Zimbabwe into the search engine of the Hansard website.

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