March 8, 2020
Zimbabwe and Britain have begun laying the ground for formal political dialogue to normalise relations, it has been learnt. Despite domesticating the European Union stance on Zimbabwe on February 20 this year — following its departure from the bloc on January 30 — Britain has reportedly been making high-level overtures designed to replicate the Zim-EU dialogue platform at a “more individual country” level. The Sunday Mail has gathered that after nearly two decades of estrangement, the two parties are reaching out to open “formal” bilateral discussions aimed at turning the page on hostile relations.
June 6, 2019
Zimbabwe and the European Union (EU) yesterday launched a formal dialogue process based on Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement which governs relations between member states of the African-Carribean-Pacific regions and the EU. The development is a major realisation of President Mnangagwa’s re-engagement policy which seeks to reintegrate Zimbabwe into the global family of nations. The dialogue is being co-chaired by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Secretary Ambassador James Manzou and the Head of the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Timo Olkkonen.
June 9, 2020
All Zimbabweans must be patriotic and do nothing that works against improving the country’s rebranding, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo said after a virtual meeting with British Minister for Africa Mr James Duddridge.The meeting discussed a range of issues including the sustained propaganda being peddled by some opposition parties and non-governmental organisations regarding the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe. Minister Moyo said the virtual meeting followed his request to speak with Mr Duddridge.
“I think the discussion was very fruitful. It was very positive and it touched on a number of issues and it also clarified quite a number of aspects which are as a result of misconceptions which are being propagated by certain political formations in this country.
Sept. 20, 2019
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Dr Sibusiso Moyo, met two top European Union (EU) representatives in Harare and the parties expressed increased desire to use the existing Free Trade Agreement to improve trade between Zimbabwe and the EU bloc.
Minister Moyo had the closed door meeting with visiting European Commission Development Directorate, Head of Unit Ms Isabelle Delattre and EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Timo Olkkonen.
Sept. 27, 2019
The Zimbabwean government has hired a fourth lobby and public relations (PR) firm in a desperate bid to spruce up its battered international image and bolster the diplomatic re-engagement drive that has fallen off the rails amid a growing backlash over the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, the Zimbabwe Independent can report.
July 25, 2019
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa wrote an official congratulatory letter to Mr Boris Johnson, who was appointed British prime minister, saying he was looking forward to working with him and his administration in rebuilding a “once-formidable bilateral relationship” between the two countries. In his congratulatory message, President Mnangagwa said: "I look forward to meeting you in person in the near future, and to working with you and your administration as, together, we strive to return our once-formidable bilateral relationship to its rightful level, distancing ourselves from past differences and focusing instead on the future."
July 10, 2019
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo left for London, the United Kingdom on a four-day re-engagement programme to strengthen bilateral relations and to woo investment into the country. The minister is expected to attend the Global Conference for Media Freedom, which starts on 10 July 2019. The conference is being co-hosted by the British and Canadian governments. Dr Moyo is also expected to give an address on investment opportunities and the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe.
Dec. 7, 2018
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube made a timely intervention as he submitted a detailed paper on Zimbabwe’s economic and political reforms to a United States of America Congress sub-committee.
June 19, 2019
GOVERNMENT has hired a second American consultancy firm, Avenue Strategies Global LLC, for US$1 080 000 to lobby the United States government to drop sanctions against Zimbabwe.
March 6, 2019
The government of Zimbabwe has hiredBallard Partners to represent it in Washington, making it the first firm to lobby on the country’s behalf in more than a decade. Brian Ballard, a top fundraiser for President Donald Trump’s campaigns, and the firm’s other lobbyists will counsel Zimbabwe on “communication with U.S. government officials, U.S. business entities, and non-governmental audiences,” according to a disclosure filing.
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