Zimbabwean officials are set to travel to the United Kingdom, the island nation that in the past imposed Zimbabwe sanctions which are blamed for the African country’s economic downfall.
The visit, which has been organised by Consolidated Africa Services (CAS), will be for the purpose of luring investors in the European island nation which boosts as an economic power house.
“Consolidated Africa Services (CAS) is delighted to announce that it will be holding a Zimbabwe Investment Forum in London, UK. This event- Zimdaba London 2018- will be held at the Royal Geographic Society, London on 15th and 16th March, 2018” said CAS on its website.
“Following recent political developments, Zimbabwe is now open for business, and is welcoming investors who want to engage with the country.”
Sanctions, which were imposed on Zimbabwe by the EU and the UK were extended on 15 February 2018.
Zimbabwe was sanctioned by Western countries, which were complaining about the degradation of the human rights, during the turn of the 21st century.
“The Council has carried out a review of Decision 2011/101/CFSP, taking into account political developments in Zimbabwe. Considering the number and significance of the uncertainties characterising the current transition following the change in leadership in December 2017, the Council takes the view that restrictive measures should remain in place until the situation becomes clearer,” read the EU documents.
“The restrictive measures against Zimbabwe should therefore be extended until 20 February 2019. The Council should keep the restrictive measures under constant review in the light of political and security developments in Zimbabwe,”
Zimbabwe and the UK have been foes for over a decade as the former colonial power championed European Union (EU) sanctions on the African country.
Sanctions to Zimbabwe were followed by economic downfall, accompanied with high unemployment rates and the fall of the Zimbabwean dollar.
The Zimbabwean government by then blamed economic sanctions on Britain, America and its Western allies and their enforced restrictions after the “successful land reform program”.
“Western allies” have denied that sanctions were the reason of Zimbabwe’s economic downfall citing corruption and mismanagement in the Zimbabwean government.
“Zimbabwe’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reiterated an institutional commitment to improving the conditions for doing business, focusing on the consolidation of Investment Policy and the one-stop shop concept; the integrity of commercial courts and the overall implementation of the new Constitution; fair/balanced competition laws, and the vital protection of property rights”, states CAS.
“With a literacy rate of above 90%, Zimbabwe rates highly in both Africa and the world. With over 60 tertiary and professional training institutions, Zimbabwe’s education sector produces some of the finest, empowered, competent and skilled human capital in the continent. Artisans greatly compliment this diversity” they concluded.