Foreign relations of Zimbabwe
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The Foreign relations of Zimbabwe emphasize a close relationship with the People's Republic of China[1] and South Africa, nations with close economic ties to Zimbabwe.
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[edit] Arab world
Zimbabwe established diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia in June 1980 and Algeria on August 31, 1980.[2]
[edit] People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union
The People's Republic of China supported Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union while the Soviet Union supported Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union, competing militant Marxist organizations that sought an end to Rhodesia and the establishment of a one-party Communist state in its place.[1] The PRC's initial investment in Mugabe has continued. China has invested more in Zimbabwe than any other nation with 35 companies spending over $600 million USD.[3] The close economic relationship between Zimbabwe and China is partly driven by sanctions imposed by Western nations in response to the Zimbabwean government's "continued human rights abuses."[4]
Li Ke, China's Vice-Minister for Economic Relations, visited Zimbabwe for 13 days in September 1980. Mugabe visited China on October 13 and met with Prime Minister Zhao Ziyang.[2]
In June or July 2006 the Zimbabwean government secretly bought Chinese rifles, bullets, anti-riot gear and other military equipment in return for 30 tons of ivory, violating the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which forbids the sale of ivory. Interpol and CITES, an ivory-watchdog organization, are investigating the sale.[5] The Zimbabwean government bought six military aircraft from China in 2005 and another six aircraft from three Chinese firms on August 23, 2006.[6] Two days later the Zimbabwe National Army said it bought 127 trucks for $1.2 million.[7]
The Chinese government donated farm machinery worth $25 million to Zimbabwe on April 21, including 424 tractors and 50 trucks, as part of a $58 million loan to the Zimbabwean government. The Mugabe administration previously seized white-owned farms and gave them to blacks, damaging machinery in the process. In return for the equipment and the loan the Zimbabwean government will ship 30 million kilograms of tobacco to the People's Republic of China immediately and as much as 80 million kilograms over the next five years.[4] John Nkomo, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe, praised Cramshina's investment on April 24, 2007 during a state dinner in Harare held during the four-day visit of Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, to Zimbabwe.[3] Misheck Sibanda, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Cde Edna Madzongwe, President of the Senate, cabinet ministers, and legislators from both ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change attended the dinner.[8]
[edit] South Africa
The Government of Zimbabwe took a particular interest in the search for independence for Namibia (South-West Africa) from South Africa. In addition, as chairman of the front-line states in southern Africa, Zimbabwe spoke out vigorously against the policies of apartheid in South Africa and frequently called for the imposition of economic sanctions against the government.[citation needed]
[edit] United Kingdom
Relations between Zimbabwe and the UK have been typically cold, with Robert Mugabe frequently accusing the former colonial power of sabotage; and attempting to invade the country[9]. In turn, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown refused to attend an African/European summit while Mugabe was invited, citing Zimbabwe's poor human rights record.[10]
[edit] United States
United States President Jimmy Carter met with Zimbabwean Prime Minister Robert Mugabe in August 1980.[11] Author Geoff Hill criticized Carter for keeping "quiet as Mugabe nationalized the press, committed genocide against minority tribes and subverted [Zimbabwe's] constitution to make himself the sole source of authority."[12]
French President Jacques Chirac angered the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States when in February 2003 he invited President Mugabe to a Franco-African conference on Africa held in France. Mugabe said he felt "at home" in Paris and "President Chirac insisted that we attend. He held firm to his principles. We need leaders of his stature." Chirac later emphasized that he had not kissed Mugabe on his cheeks when the conference began.[13] The UK had previously tried to get the European Union to deny Mugabe the right to come to Europe, citing human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.[14]
Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi summoned U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell on November 9, 2005 and expressed his "extreme displeasure" with comments Dell made a few days earlier in Mutare. Dell had said government corruption had led to food shortages. Mugabe said Dell could "go to hell."[15] Dell left Zimbabwe for Washington D.C., United States on November 9 for consultations after meeting with Minister Mumbengegwi.[16]
[edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
- Schwartz, Richard. Coming to Terms: Zimbabwe in the International Arena. I.B. Tauris.
[edit] References
- ^ a b ?, ? (?). The Great Wall and the Empty Fortress: China's Search for Security, 48.
- ^ a b ?, ? (?). Southern African Political History: A Chronological of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997, 711-712.
- ^ a b China ranks Zimbabwe's top investor: senior official (HTML). People's Daily Online. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
- ^ a b Zimbabwe gets Chinese farm machinery worth $25 mln Reuters via SABC News
- ^ Zimbabwe: Country accused of trading ivory for military hardware from China, June 27, 2007. AllAfrica
- ^ Zimbabwe buys more military jets from China Reuters via Zimbabwe buys more military jets from China
- ^ Zimbabwe military plans recruitment drive, mulls pay increases Voice of America
- ^ Zimbabwe: China now Zimbabwe's top investor AllAfrica
- ^ BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Zimbabwe 'ready for UK invasion'
- ^ BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown boycotts summit over Mugabe
- ^ Page 380 Notable U.S. Ambassadors Since 1775: A Biographical Dictionary
- ^ Page 8 What Happens After Mugabe?
- ^ Page 33 Hating America: The New World Sport
- ^ Page 146 Allies: Why the West Had to Remove Saddam
- ^ Zimbabwe voices anger at US envoy BBC News
- ^ Ambassador leaves Zimbabwe Zwnews
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