Latest news with #Mutsvangwa
IOL News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
'Even white Zimbabweans are returning': Zanu-PF insists exiles are flocking back home
African National Congress (ANC) Youth League president Collen Malatji shared pictures with President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa during a recent visit to Harare. Image: Thlologelo Collen Malatji/X Many Zimbabweans who left the country at the peak of economic and political turmoil, and settled in numerous countries, including South Africa, are now investing back home, while others are returning to their ancestral nation. These were the views expressed by Zanu PF national spokesperson, Christopher Mutsvangwa, who was recently in South Africa for the 2025 Liberation Movements Summit hosted by the African National Congress (ANC) in Kempton Park. The summit concluded on Monday and was hosted under the theme: 'Defending the liberation gains, advancing integrated socio-economic development, strengthening solidarity for a better Africa.' Southern African liberation movements, including the ANC, People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Namibia's ruling party, the South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo); Mozambique's Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Frelimo); Zanu-PF, and Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) were represented at high level at the summit in Gauteng. Mutsvangwa, in an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, was asked for his views on the prevailing political and economic situation in Zimbabwe, which has resulted in the extensive migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa, estimated in the millions, sparking tensions in South African communities. In his response, Mutsvangwa said Zimbabweans in South Africa are seeking greener pastures, but the situation back home has significantly improved. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'It is the search for better pastures, that is natural. South Africa had the advantage of having comparative access to capital as a white apartheid state. In colonial times, capital into Africa followed white, and South Africa has the biggest white population on the African continent. All those Western countries gave South Africa a certain edge in access to capital. 'We in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia were second in terms of our white population. We also had comparatively better access to capital than any other African country, and we had migration of labour from Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia into Zimbabwe. The former Zimbabwean ambassador to the People's Republic of China said people follow where they see an advantage in terms of development and capital. National spokesperson of Zimbabwe's ruling party, Zanu PF, Christopher Mutsvangwa (left) with Zanu PF director of information Farai Marupira addressing journalists in Harare. Image: File 'Now things have changed. We are now having capital in a flat global world where China can supply capital, India can supply capital, Riyadh can supply capital, so we now have an Africa that is going to global markets, getting capital. That discrepancy in access to capital, which was the case for the colonial era, is beginning to disappear. 'You cannot believe it, there is now a seamless environment between life in Zimbabwe and life abroad. That is why our diaspora is coming back to Zimbabwe, putting a lot of money … our diaspora feels at home, they are now beginning to invest at home. For your information, the biggest diaspora migration is white.' He said the white Zimbabweans who had fled the country at the onset of majority rule in 1980 make up a good number of the people moving back into the landlocked Southern African nation ruled by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. 'So the return of the white diaspora back to Zimbabwe is actually an indication that things are getting better in Zimbabwe. Remember we are operating the hardest currency in the world, the US dollar, and if you can make your economy succeed on the back of the US dollar, it means you are doing very well as a country,' said the War Veterans Association chairperson. Speaking to IOL, Dr Alexander Rusero, head of the department of international relations and diplomacy at the Africa University situated in Mutare, Zimbabwe, said the landlocked country seemingly has its worst times behind it - economically and politically. 'I think in all fairness, Zimbabwe has had its bad tide and we are definitely past that in as much as the mess we were once in as a country is concerned. That explains why you hear an opposition voice. We are as good as not having an opposition in Zimbabwe, and if you want to look at Zimbabwe's dynamics currently, just look at the balance of forces within Zanu-PF. 'With regards to the economy, like any post-colonial African state, we still have challenges with regards to unemployment. The Zimbabwe situation at the moment there is hardly anything to write home about, especially with regards to difficulties. If we are to put that on scale - where are versus where we are coming from, I think we are performing fairly well, in as far as the Zimbabwean standard is concerned. On the political front, Rusero said the country has seen stability after the exit of former president Robert Mugabe. 'We are actually in the most stable political climate post Mugabe, save to say it is unhealthy for a polity not to have a viable and vibrant opposition., as is currently the case. We do not have an opposition, and what happens is that protagonists in Zanu-PF will start quarrelling against each other because there is no external force which would make them unite and fight against an external threat.' He said temperatures within Zimbabwe have normalised, which has paved the way for the country to slip from the regional and international agendas where it was perennially perched due to political violence and intolerance. With regards to the millions of Zimbabweans based outside the country's borders, Rusero said there is no guarantee that they will return home, as some have permanently settled in the countries they moved to. 'We are living in an era of epic human movement. It is not always the case that people migrate so that, at some point, they have to come back. We wouldn't have had whites migrating from Europe to Africa. The whole idea is that you have to be where opportunities are thriving. The world, the global economy, is shrunk at the moment, and as much as people might have nostalgia for coming home, home is where the heart is. 'Zimbabwe is pretty much very stable, but also still has challenges with regard to opportunities, an environment that is hassle-free. In Zimbabwe, you have to hustle, but if it is between life and death, between stability and instability, you would rather be home and be stable, safe, as opposed to being away,' Rusero told IOL. 'The Zimbabwe of 2008 it is a gone Zimbabwe. The country is relatively calm, relatively free, and I think we are experiencing a modicum of some economic and political stability, which has become unusual insofar as Zimbabwe's polity is concerned. IOL News
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
ZANU–PF warns South Africa against US sanctions and Trump's influence
Zimbabwe's ruling party has come out strongly against a proposed US bill that could sanction ANC leaders, urging South Africa to stay firm and resist foreign intimidation. Image: AFP Zimbabwe's ruling party (ZANU–PF) says South Africa should not be intimidated by a proposed US bill that could empower President Donald Trump with 'superpowers' to impose sanctions on African National Congress (ANC) leaders. ZANU–PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the United States should not "misdirect itself" in its diplomatic relations with South Africa. 'These issues could be resolved without resorting to sanctions. But if America decides to go its own way, so be it - we've had over two decades of experience dealing with sanctions,' Mutsvangwa said. He made the comments on Friday at the ANC's 2025 Liberation Movements Summit in Kempton Park. He said the US' previous sanctions on Zimbabwe had not derailed the country's progress. 'They have not stopped Zimbabwe from making progress. On the contrary, we are now potentially the most dynamic economy on the African continent,' Mutsvangwa told Newzroom Afrika. 'Who would have thought that Zimbabwe would now be developing a third-world steel industry - one that even America might look at with a bit of jealousy?' Last year, the US imposed sanctions on Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of serious human rights violations after his disputed victory in the 2023 elections. Relations between Washington and Harare have been strained for more than 20 years. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The US initially imposed economic and travel sanctions on Zimbabwe in the early 2000s, targeting the late President Robert Mugabe and several senior government officials, accusing them of eroding democratic principles. However, on March 4, 2024, former President Joe Biden officially ended the US sanctions program against Zimbabwe, lifting restrictions on all previously sanctioned individuals, entities, and assets under that policy. He encouraged South Africa to view the situation from a more optimistic perspective. 'Don't worry about being pushed around by superpowers. We've travelled that road before. We share experiences, and we have the resources anyway,' he added. This comes after reports that the US Congressman Ronny Jackson introduced the US and South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, a bill that could sanction ANC leaders for allegedly supporting US adversaries, including China, Russia and Iran. On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the issue while visiting BMW South Africa. 'We've heard what has happened in the House Committee, but the process still has a long way to go,' Ramaphosa said. 'Our bilateral dealings and engagements with the United States will continue, and we'll talk about all manner of things - including this issue.' Ramaphosa added that South Africa values its diplomatic relations with the US and hopes to strengthen them through continued dialogue. 'We are very positive that the outcome of our engagements with the United States will be comprehensive and all-encompassing, so we can return to good deals with the United States,' he said. IOL News previously reported that the ANC said it is pinning its hopes on Democrats in the US Congress, particularly those who supported the anti-apartheid movement, to block the bill. 'There are many Democrats, including those who were part of the anti-apartheid movements, who will stand up to caution Americans against supporting a president who wants to censor and undermine the sovereignty of other nations,' said ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri. Bengu-Motsiri said the ANC will vigorously oppose any attempt to isolate it through renewed sanctions. 'Remember, we come from a history where sanctions were imposed against the apartheid system,' she said. 'The ANC was also isolated by countries that worked closely with the apartheid regime, including the United States.' The bill, which was passed through the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees, will now be presented before the full US House of Representatives for a vote. IOL Politics
The Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Zimbabwean official hails Chinese-invested firm for increasing steel production
HARARE, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe is witnessing the revival of its iron and steel industry following the ramp-up of steel production by the Chinese-invested Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO), a senior official from Zimbabwe's ruling party said on Thursday. "We have a new product, which is the export of steel from Zimbabwe. This is also beginning to spur the regeneration of Zimbabwe's downstream steel fabrication sector," said Christopher Mutsvangwa, a politburo member and secretary for information and publicity for the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, while addressing journalists in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. DISCO, a subsidiary of China's Tsingshan Holding Group, commenced production last year with pig iron, followed by steel billets, and is now producing steel bars. The company is also expected to start producing bolts, nuts and other steel products. "The technology continues to expand, and the product diversity continues to increase," said Mutsvangwa. The local steel production is expected to support the revival of the heavy steel industry in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city, which was severely affected by the collapse of the domestic steel sector, he added. The closure of a major steel producer in 2008 significantly impacted Zimbabwe's local steel industry, forcing the country to rely on imports. Following the ramp-up of domestic steel production, the Zimbabwean government last Friday introduced new restrictions on the importation of certain steel products.
