AUSTRALIA yesterday signalled its intentions to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe after Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s plea last year for the embargo to be suspended.
Report by Moses Matenga
Tsvangirai last year met his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard in Canberra where he asked Western countries to reward the inclusive government for the reforms it had instituted since its formation in 2009.
Bob Carr, the Australian Foreign Affairs minister, said his government was planning to lift some of the targeted sanctions in response to Zimbabwe’s progress in the constitution- making process.
Tsvangirai’s plea was also credited for Canberra’s shift in its policy towards Zimbabwe.
“Reform in Zimbabwe has been painstakingly slow and much more needs to be done,” Carr told the Australian newspaper.
“But by lifting sanctions in response to key political benchmarks, we will be sending an important signal that reform will be rewarded.” Meanwhile, visiting Global Union (UNI) secretary-general Philip Jennings has advised Zimbabwean politicians to guard against violence during the referendum on the new constitution and forthcoming elections.
Jennings said a violent election would tarnish the country’s international image.
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He made the remarks after paying a courtesy call on Tsvangirai at his Highlands residence on Tuesday evening.
“Our hope is that Zimbabweans will vote for a constitution and have peaceful elections for the good of the country and its people,” Jennings said.
“The world is interested in Zimbabwe’s constitution process and during my meeting with the PM, there was a message of hope in the new constitution, which I will take to the world.”
UNI is a global union which brings together over 900 trade unions representing over 15 million members worldwide.
