Zimbabwe is in a severe economic crisis and hopes for German support. However, the Federal government holds back even a year after the end of the Mugabe Era with Commitments and pushing for reforms.
Federal development Minister Gerd Müller in August, with the then Zimbabwean Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa
As Zimbabwe’s military, the long-time ruler Robert Mugabe urged a year ago, out of the office, went out a short sigh of relief by the political Berlin. A year later, not much seems to be of relief to be left. “We had hoped that President Mnangagwa would implement important political and economic reforms. So far, we see but little progress,” from diplomatic circles in Berlin.
From the point of view of Western observers, the new President so far to reform the judiciary or the security forces of the country; both were important pillars of Mugabe’s rule. Critics complain that opposition politicians, journalists and civil society continue to be oppressed. The disputed presidential elections at the end of July, which were overshadowed by fraud allegations and violent protests, they have not contributed to more confidence in Zimbabwe’s new leadership. Security forces killed in the beginning of August, six people took part in demonstrations for a quick announcement of the election results part.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa at his inauguration in August,
Positive signals, and little action
“The government has sent positive signals and made it clear that she wants to initiate reforms,” says David Mbae, the Director of the Zimbabwe office of the CDU-near Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in the DW-Interview. “But in practice not a lot has happened, and also the international partners will probably have to wait.”
Zimbabwe’s new government tries desperately to improve the relations with private investors and former partners. “Zimbabwe is open for business” is a popular Slogan from President Mnangagwa. The new head of state has repeatedly stressed the importance of relations with countries such as Germany or the UK. At least rhetorically, this is a noticeable departure from Mugabe’s policies.
Mugabe had sought closer ties with China after relations with Western partners were in the early 2000s in the fractures. Germany had set the bilateral development cooperation with Zimbabwe in 2002 completely – as a reaction to Mugabe’s authoritarian style of government and the controversial land reform. White farmers were expropriated forcibly, your possession, in many cases, the government party ZANU followers-PF. Attacks on opposition politicians, civil society and critical media also increased. The Federal government was then, only indirect support – through humanitarian aid and grants to non-governmental organisations and multi-national Fund.
Zimbabwe has struggled with Cholera outbreaks, most recently in September
Hard times in Harare
This Chapter would end the new Zimbabwean government. “We have agreed that we should accelerate the reconstruction of the relations”, said the then Finance Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, after a visit of German development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) in August. “We have also spoken about the need to create in Zimbabwe, Jobs. In other words, we want to establish schools and to expand. We have also talked about lines of credit,” said Chinamasa, who was replaced at the end of September, by Mthuli Ncube.
Zimbabwe urgently needs financial support. “The economic situation is still precarious. We have achieved this month, a new high level of Inflation,” says David Mbae, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. “The prices for food have increased enormously, while wages stagnate. There were shortages of bread, cooking oil, gasoline. The people stood hours in line to get gasoline.”
Empty shelves in the super markets are available in Zimbabwe are not uncommon
Zimbabwe had pulled as a reaction to a Hyperinflation of its currency back in 2009, and instead, the US Dollar and other foreign currencies as a means of payment admitted. As the Dollar supplies were scarce, the Mugabe government two years ago, the so-called Bond Notes. The US Dollar paired debt worthless bills are abroad. Therefore, the value of the Bond Notes is falling against the Dollar – the Inflation is the cause of the current economic crisis.
11 Billion Dollars Of Debt
Nevertheless likely to flow in the near future, no money from Germany: From diplomatic circles in Berlin, the DW learned that the conditions for new loans had not yet been fulfilled. Germany to get first concrete political and economic proposals for reform of the Mnangagwa-government. Currently, Zimbabwe’s arrears amount to more than eleven billion dollars (9.6 billion euros).
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No dollars for Zimbabwe
A Delegation of the German Ministry for economic development and cooperation (BMZ) is expected by the end of November in Harare for talks. The UN children’s Fund UNICEF, the Ministry gives € 25 million to support Zimbabwe’s schools. A Ministry spokeswoman told DW-question, however, is that the Ministry has no current plans, the direct development co-operation in this or next year. “A precondition for the resumption of bilateral state development cooperation the implementation of political and economic reforms by the government of Zimbabwe. We will liaise closely with our European partners,” said the BMZ.
The Opposition in the German Bundestag, calls for more international pressure on the government of President Mnangagwa. “I don’t see any real political change in Zimbabwe, I don’t see any development of democratic structures,” says Uwe Kekeritz, development policy speaker of the Greens. “I am of the opinion that one should include the development of cooperation,” Kekeritz to DW, “however, must be completely removed from the government policy, which means we need to cooperate with civil society.”