Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe continues to make headline news around the world. In a dramatic twist of events, after seven years of intense hostility, a European Union delegation led by EU Aid and Development Commissioner Karel De Gucht visited Zimbabwe for talks with Mugabe and the opposition. The characteristically defiant Mugabe this time had fine words for the EU delegation. “We welcome you with open arms.”
Zimbabwe EU Relations Since 2002
For the past seven years, Zimbabwe has come under successive waves of debilitating sanctions from the EU over allegations of human rights abuses, the suppression of democracy and election rigging. The birth of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) received both the blessings and support of many European countries championed by Britain. This state of relations dragged on until the Presidential elections of March 2008 which the EU considered highly flawed. Mugabe held on to power despite mounting tensions.
As pressure mounted, Mugabe reluctantly entered into a Government of National Unity (GNU) with the opposition in February, 2009. On his part, the embattled Mugabe has missed no opportunity to present himself as a victim of vilification by the West since he embarked on land reforms to empower blacks in Zimbabwe. The resultant friction has kept Mugabe and his cronies under travel bans and asset freezes by the EU.
Explaining the EU’s Re-engagement with Mugabe
Since colonial times, Zimbabwe’s strategic and economic potential has made it a pivot of great power politics throughout Southern Africa. It is therefore not difficult to identify the interest motive behind the EU’s mood swing in favor of dialogue with Mugabe especially since the language of “regime change” has lost appeal. Even at the height of EU sanctions, many key EU members (especially France) still maintained strong economic ties with Mugabe for purely economic reasons.
Connected to the interest motive is the worrisome presence of China in Zimbabwe. Since he parted company with the West, Mugabe has made himself the champion of an African “look east” policy. “We have turned east” he declared, “where the sun rises, and given our backs to the West where the sun sets.” True to his words, China has always been there for Mugabe, delivering soft loans, weapons and diplomatic protection.
The humanitarian factor cannot be discarded in explaining the EU’s decision to normalize relations with Mugabe. Despite tense relations, the EU has remained Zimbabwe’s key aid donor, providing $829 in humanitarian assistance. After the recent EU-Zimbabwe meeting, Swedish International development Minister Gunilla Carlson agreed that issues concerning human rights and press freedom were addressed.
Significance of the EU-Zimbabwe Rapprochement
The recent EU-Zimbabwe meeting came against a backdrop of increasing calls from the pro-Mugabe Southern African Development Community (SADC) for western sanctions against Zimbabwe to be lifted. This meeting was therefore a glittering victory for Mugabe who again stressed on the impact of these sanctions. “They are causing suffering to the people right at the bottom,” Mugabe lamented.
Mugabe “might have” successfully swam his way through hot waters but the lessons might not be very good for Africa. As usual, economic considerations have preceded democracy, human rights and the plight of African masses in Zimbabwe. The clear lesson for Africa is that leaders can stay in power for as long as they can either defy the West or sacrifice the wealth of their nations to great powers at the expense of their people.
See Also: Mugabe, Case study in Defiance against the West
Understanding Zimbabwe’s Land Crisis
Sources:
Banya, Nelson. “Mugabe welcomes EU delegation with open arms.” Reuters, 12 September 2009.
Fowale, Tongkeh. “Breaking the Chains of the Past: The Road to Equality in Afro-European Relations.” American Chronicle, 30 January 2008.
Reno, William. “African Conflicts, Colonialism and Contemporary Intervention.” ASAAP, 2003
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