26 March 2009

Harare — PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday met visiting Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development Mr Erik Solheim as dialogue between Zimbabwe and some European countries intensifies.

The meeting was the first high-level contact between the Presidency and an envoy from a European country since the formation of the inclusive Government in February.

Norway does not have sanctions against Zimbabwe since it is not a member of the EU. Norwegians have twice rejected treaties of accession to the EU though Oslo is a member of the European Economic Area and implements most legislation made by the EU.

Mr Solheim's visit comes hard on the heels of a visit by the Danish Minister of Co-operation Development, Ms Ulla Tornaes, who pledged her country's support for the inclusive Government.

Observers say the lead taken by the Scandinavian countries bodes well for the anti-sanctions drive as they are considered the conscience of a Europe that bogged Zimbabwe with the albatross of economic sanctions.

Speaking after meeting Mr Solheim, President Mugabe told journalists that although the inclusive Government was still facing some challenges, it was working smoothly.

"At the moment, we feel in partnership with those who have joined the Government. It (inclusive Government) is smoothly running, it is now in our rhythm. It's like tradition," said President Mugabe.

The inclusive Government, President Mugabe said, was not the first time Zimbabwe has had a coalition government.

"In 1980, even though Zanu-PF had won the elections, we included four ministers from Ian Smith's party. At the moment I am working with Prime Minister Tsvangirai as my brother," he said.

He, however, said the new Government was facing a lot of challenges especially in uniting the people.

"We face a challenge to establish peace among the people, for them to work together and avoid violence. We no longer have an opposition and we are working together towards the same goals we have set as a Government," he said.

President Mugabe said the inclusive Government needed capital investment to get the mines and industry to work again.

"The main challenge for the inclusive Government is to get the economy to improve, turning it around.

"We also want the economic sector to become viable, our factories to get moving and the mines to start producing the various minerals found in the country," he said.

He, however, said while Zimbabwe was in need of foreign aid; it must come on friendly terms.

"We have had amendments to our laws but there are still some countries that have set conditions for them to give aid.

"That is what they have always done but we would want to say if it comes, it must come in friendly terms, we must be equal in status and we do not have to go on our knees for them. We only do that for one person and that person is up there (God)," he said.

President Mugabe reiterated that land reform was irreversible, as it was a constitutional matter.

"When we were negotiating before independence, we agreed with the British that there shall be a land reform programme.

"It also has to do with the right of the people to land, a decolonisation of the country," he said.

President Mugabe said the British must respect Zimbabwe's sovereignty even if they want to assist the Government.

"If they do not accept that we are a sovereign country, they can still go hang," he said.

In the closed-door meeting, President Mugabe is said to have brushed off claims that Zimbabwe had political prisoners.

He indicated that all persons presently before the country's courts were facing criminal charges that required prosecution.

Officials said the President also pointed out that no farm invasions were taking place. Instead, President Mugabe said, Government was actually facing resistance from white commercial farmers who were refusing to vacate land that had legally been acquired for resettlement by the State.

"The President was very categorical on the fact that these people were in the courts on criminal charges that do not have anything to do with politics.

"He also cleared the air on the purported 'fresh farm invasions' as Government was actually facing resistance from white former commercial farmers who were served letters indicating that the farms had been acquired for resettlement," an official said.

Speaking to journalists after meeting the President, Mr Solheim said he had been impressed at how all the parties to the inclusive Government wanted it to work.

"We also believe it is the future and it is a positive development. We have been friends with the people of Zimbabwe for a long time. We are old friends and we are now ready to engage the Government of Zimbabwe," he said.

He urged Government to also engage the international community.

"You are in this new Government, it is a point of no return but the key issue is to break the impasse between Zimbabwe and the international community," he said.

Mr Solheim, who leaves Zimbabwe today, said Oslo was also ready to engage Zimbabwe in this process.