EUROPEAN Union ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann says the bloc is interested in seeing Zimbabwe succeed in debt resolution talks with its creditors.
Speaking on FreeTalk, a political talk show on HStv, he, however, said debt clearance involved the government reforming on several fronts including governance.
“That solution entails reforms on the economic side, reforms on good governance side and solving issues on the debt side and these three checklists are currently operating and the objective is that at some point there is debt restructuring, there is debt relief, there is partial repayment and then Zimbabwe will have access to sovereign landing,” the diplomat said.
“It’s not a process where Zimbabwe has to get rid of the debt only but it’s a process where Zimbabwe has to engage with the international community on not always very easy topics, such as good governance, on economic reforms, having an open exchange about it, the land issues...”
Government has been engaged in a concerted process to resolve its official debt and clear its arrears with international creditors, including the African Development Bank.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday said his government was committed to clearing its debt.
Mnangagwa is currently in Kenya attending African Development Bank annual meetings.
The EU ambassador said the bloc pulled the plug on funding the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) after it failed the credibility test.
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“We didn’t feel it’s the right moment to put money into an institution which has inherently been criticised during and after elections, but it doesn’t mean we are not supporting independent institutions,” he said.
The EU in September formally suspended its US$5 million financial aid for Zec citing lack of transparency and irregularities in the August 2023 elections.
The election, according to observers missions including those from Sadc, Carter Center and the EU, among others, was characterised by irregularities and fell short of meeting regional and international standards.
According to the ambassador, the disputed elections hindered the trust building exercise.
“The elections we had hoped were going to be an element which could contribute to trust building; they didn’t contribute,” he said.
