Harare – The European Union lifted trade sanctions against Zimbabwe on Thursday and will resume development and finance cooperation with the country.
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Philippe Van Damme told journalists on Thursday that direct aid will resume this weekend, when part of the sanctions imposed on the Zimbabwean government over alleged rights abuses expire.
"The EU Council confirms that appropriate measures will indeed be lifted this weekend," he said, adding that the EU’s development aid will target health, agriculture and governance.
"We have reached a very important stage in the normalisation of our relations with Zimbabwe," Van Damme said.
"We can now fully engage on development policies of this government. We have to find ways to rebuild trust. Let's move forward towards normalisation of relations," he said, while warning that change will not happen overnight.
"It will take time to rebuild trust."
The EU, however, kept sanctions against President Mugabe, his wife Grace and several members of his party and service chiefs.
- Fin24
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Philippe Van Damme told journalists on Thursday that direct aid will resume this weekend, when part of the sanctions imposed on the Zimbabwean government over alleged rights abuses expire.
"The EU Council confirms that appropriate measures will indeed be lifted this weekend," he said, adding that the EU’s development aid will target health, agriculture and governance.
"We have reached a very important stage in the normalisation of our relations with Zimbabwe," Van Damme said.
"We can now fully engage on development policies of this government. We have to find ways to rebuild trust. Let's move forward towards normalisation of relations," he said, while warning that change will not happen overnight.
"It will take time to rebuild trust."
The EU, however, kept sanctions against President Mugabe, his wife Grace and several members of his party and service chiefs.
- Fin24