Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) boycotted Tuesday’s ceremony to open a new parliamentary session, during which President Robert Mugabe appealed to the West to lift sanctions on him and his ZANU-PF party leadership.
“With the elections now behind us, we look forward to meaningful and effective collaboration with all progressive members of the global community,” said the 89-year-old leader, adding: “We indeed stand ready to work with those who, before, were at odds with us; our detractors. On the other hand, Zimbabwe will continue to demand the immediate and unconditional removal of illegal sanctions imposed by some Western arrogant countries.”
On the same day, the EU announced the lifting of sanctions on the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), meaning Zimbabwe’s most prominent diamond supplier, Marange, could soon be allowed to sell diamonds in Europe.
Mugabe’s 33-year rule of Zimbabwe was extended by another five years when he won the July 31 elections. Former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC regards those elections as a “monumental fraud.”
“We would have recognised a stolen election had we attended the ceremony,” said MDC spokesman Douglas Mwonzora of the parliamentary opening.
Last week, Mugabe appointed a new cabinet that maintained a controversial policy of seizing a majority stake of foreign-owned firms and giving them to black natives of Zimbabwe. He said the program will be “reviewed and strengthened,” adding Zimbabwe’s economic recovery would be anchored on financial assistance from countries such as India and China.
