Jonah Patel
Zimbabwe has maintained diplomatic relations with various countries around the world, especially its neighbouring nations, since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1980. Zimbabwe has historically had close ties with Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, and it has been an active member of several international organisations, including the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization. Zimbabwe has also been a participant in international peacekeeping missions and has contributed troops to UN efforts. However, strained relations with the EU and the US have led to Zimbabwe adopting a look east policy, focusing on diplomatic relations with East Asian countries and relying on its diplomatic missions in the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific regions. Zimbabwe's current position in the world of diplomacy is influenced by its history, geographic location, and economic and political relationships with other countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Policy of Active Non-Alignment | Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Organization of African Unity (OAU), Group of 77 + China |
| International Agreements | Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, International Convention relating to economic Statistics, Securing Space for Peace Parks, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources, Preferential Trade Area Treaty (PTA), Lome Convention, World Heritage Convention, International Conventions on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Agreement on the Action Plan for the Environmentally Sound Management of the Zambezi River System (ZACPPLAN) |
| International Organisations | United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organization, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, International Labour Organization, International Telecommunications Union, World Food Programme, G-15, Commonwealth, Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU) |
| Number of Embassies in the Capital, Harare | 51 |
| Countries with Significant Bilateral Relations | Neighbouring nations, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, Botswana, United States, Malaysia, China, Kuwait, Iran, India |
| International Recognition | The British Government has expressed support for Zimbabwe's return to the Commonwealth |
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What You'll Learn
Zimbabwe's diplomatic relations with neighbouring nations
Zimbabwe maintains diplomatic relations with numerous countries around the world, including its neighbouring nations. The country has embassies in several African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia. Zimbabwe has historically had close ties with its former colonial power, Britain, and other Commonwealth nations. However, Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003 due to international criticism of its human rights record. Zimbabwe's current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has expressed intentions to reapply for Commonwealth membership.
Zimbabwe has participated in regional and international forums such as the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the World Health Organization, and the International Labour Organization. The country has also been involved in international peacekeeping missions and has contributed troops to UN efforts. As a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Zimbabwe has historical political and economic relations with other SADC countries, including Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Zimbabwe has also played an active role in campaigning against apartheid and advocating for economic sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Zimbabwe's diplomatic relations with some Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, have been strained due to land reform policies and the imposition of sanctions. In response, Zimbabwe has adopted a "look east" policy, strengthening diplomatic ties with East Asian countries like Malaysia and China. Zimbabwe also maintains diplomatic relations with countries in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and other regions.
Zimbabwe's foreign policy has been influenced by its participation in organizations such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the African Union (AU), and its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The country has held positions in these organizations and contributed to initiatives such as the liberation of Namibia and the eradication of apartheid. Overall, Zimbabwe's diplomatic relations with neighbouring nations are multifaceted and shaped by historical, political, and economic factors.
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The country's relationship with the Commonwealth of Nations
Zimbabwe has had a controversial and stormy diplomatic relationship with the Commonwealth of Nations. Zimbabwe was a member of the Commonwealth from 1980, the year it gained independence from Britain, until 2003.
Zimbabwe's history with the Commonwealth goes back further, however. Zimbabwe was the British colony of Southern Rhodesia from 1901 until 1980, and Southern Rhodesia believed it was a member of the Commonwealth in the wake of its invitation to the 1932 British Empire Economic Conference. Southern Rhodesia became one of the most prosperous and heavily settled of the UK's African colonies, with a system of white minority rule. In 1962, in response to demands for greater black African power in government, the anti-federation white nationalist Rhodesian Front was elected, leading to the collapse of federation. The Rhodesian Front rejected the Commonwealth principle of no independence for member states (NIBMAR).
In 1979, the Commonwealth Heads of Government issued the Lusaka Declaration, committing itself to ending racial discrimination. The meeting invited Rhodesia-Zimbabwe's new Prime Minister Abel Muzorewa and Ian Smith to a constitutional convention with the leading guerrilla leaders, resulting in the Lancaster House Agreement. This demanded a ceasefire, reverted Rhodesia back into the British colony of Southern Rhodesia, and paved the way for an election in 1980. The election was won by Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF, leading to Southern Rhodesia's independence as the Republic of Zimbabwe.
In later years, under the presidency of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe dominated Commonwealth affairs, creating acrimonious splits in the organisation. In 2002, Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth for breaching the Harare Declaration, which committed member states to safeguarding democracy and human rights. In 2003, when the Commonwealth refused to lift the suspension, Zimbabwe withdrew from the organisation.
In 2017, Mugabe, who had been president for 37 years, was overthrown in a coup d'etat and replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa stated that Zimbabwe would apply to return to the Commonwealth, and the country began the process of rejoining in 2018. This process is ongoing, but some argue that Zimbabwe should not be allowed to rejoin as it does not meet the required standards in respect of its human rights record, democratic processes and institutions, and rule of law.
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China's COVID-19 diplomacy in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has maintained diplomatic relations with various countries around the world, including its neighboring nations and those further afield, such as Russia and NAM states. Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, currently hosts 51 embassies, and the country is a member of several multilateral organizations, including the African Union and the Southern Africa International Dialogue.
Zimbabwe has had a long-standing relationship with China, which has strengthened its traditional alliances and relationships with various African states during the COVID-19 pandemic. China's assistance to Zimbabwe during the pandemic has been in the form of medical assistance, including masks, vaccines, and other emergency health equipment. China has also provided personnel, such as COVID-19 experts, to the country. This assistance is not new; China has a history of providing medical and other forms of assistance to Zimbabwe and other African countries.
Zimbabwe is an important member of the African bloc at the United Nations, which China needs support from. Thus, China's assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies serves diplomatic purposes and reciprocal economic gains for both countries.
Zimbabwe's relationship with China during the COVID-19 pandemic has also been influenced by broader geopolitical dynamics. China's assistance to African countries has signaled to competitors like the USA that Africa is within its sphere of influence. At the same time, there have been tensions in China-Africa relations, with reports of racism and discrimination against Africans in China and vice versa.
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The US's Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act
Zimbabwe maintains diplomatic relations with various countries around the world, with 51 embassies hosted in its capital, Harare. The country has significant bilateral relations with several nations, particularly its neighbouring countries. Zimbabwe also has missions to several multilateral organisations, including the African Union, the United Nations, and its specialised agencies, the World Health Organisation, the World Trade Organisation, and the World Food Programme, among others. The country also has a focus on economic cooperation with countries in the Asia and Pacific Region, including the Middle East.
Zimbabwe's position in the world of diplomacy has been impacted by the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA) of 2001. Passed by the United States Congress, the act imposed economic sanctions on Zimbabwe, with the stated goal of facilitating a transition to democracy and promoting economic recovery. The act was supported by findings that the Zimbabwean government was unable to participate in programs by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which aimed to assist in the country's economic transformation. The IMF had suspended its support in September 1999 due to economic mismanagement, undemocratic practices, and the deployment of troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
ZDERA's policy aimed to support the people of Zimbabwe in their efforts for democratic change, equitable economic growth, and the restoration of the rule of law. This included conditions for free and fair elections, an end to government-sponsored violence and intimidation, and a commitment to transparent land reform. The act also addressed multilateral debt relief and financial assistance, allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to direct US executive directors of multilateral development banks to propose reviews of Zimbabwe's sovereign debt.
In subsequent years, bills such as the Zimbabwe Sanctions Repeal Act of 2010 and 2011 were introduced in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but did not proceed to a vote. More recently, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act of 2018 was introduced, expressing support for Zimbabweans' efforts to rebuild the nation, reconcile with the past, and strengthen the US-Zimbabwe relationship. This amendment act also urged the enforcement of SADC tribunal rulings from 2007 to 2010, addressing disputes involving human rights, employment, and commercial issues surrounding Zimbabwean farmers and agricultural companies.
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Zimbabwe's foreign policy and land reform
Zimbabwe's foreign policy is guided by the pursuit of national security, economic well-being, and a positive image of the country. The country maintains diplomatic relations with various nations, especially its neighbours, and has significant bilateral ties. Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, hosts 51 embassies, while several other countries have ambassadors accredited from other capital cities, such as Pretoria and Addis Ababa.
Zimbabwe's foreign policy has undergone shifts since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1980. Under Robert Mugabe, the country's foreign policy reoriented towards closer relations with African, Soviet, and NAM states. Mugabe's controversial policies, including land reform, led to international criticism and the closure of several embassies in Zimbabwe by countries like the Czech Republic and Botswana.
Land reform in Zimbabwe, aimed at redistributing land from white commercial farmers to black farmers, has been a highly contentious issue. It began in 1980 with the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement, addressing the unequal land distribution between white and black Rhodesians. While the initial agreement stipulated voluntary land reform, in the late 1990s, the Zimbabwean government initiated a "fast-track" redistribution campaign, forcibly confiscating white-owned farms without compensation.
The land reform policy has been criticised for its violent expropriations, the collapse of domestic banks holding bonds on liquidated properties, and negative economic consequences. The United Nations has identified shortcomings, including the failure to compensate landowners and the poor handling of boundary disputes. Additionally, the revocation of property rights and the disruption of established irrigation systems have impacted agricultural productivity.
Despite the controversies surrounding land reform and its impact on Zimbabwe's international relations, the country has expressed intentions to re-engage with the international community. Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe's successor, has stated Zimbabwe's desire to return to the Commonwealth, signalling a potential shift in foreign policy and a willingness to rebuild relations with the international community.
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Frequently asked questions
Zimbabwe maintains diplomatic relations with various countries around the world, particularly its neighbouring nations. Zimbabwe has an "active nonalignment" policy and is a member of several international organisations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. Zimbabwe has historically had a close relationship with China, which has provided medical assistance and other forms of aid to the country. Zimbabwe has also expressed interest in rejoining the Commonwealth of Nations, which it withdrew from in 2003 due to international criticism of its government's human rights record.
The United States was the first nation to open an embassy in Zimbabwe following its independence in 1980, and it pledged assistance towards the country's economic development. However, in the late 1990s, the Zimbabwean government's economic mismanagement and corruption led to the country becoming heavily indebted and reliant on humanitarian assistance. The US Congress passed the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act in 2001, restricting US support until Zimbabwe implements concrete governance and economic reforms.
The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare, which currently hosts 51 embassies. Several countries have closed their embassies in Zimbabwe in recent years to protest the policies of former President Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and coordinates its participation in SADC activities through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Trade. Zimbabwe also has a close relationship with the African Union, with its missions in African countries promoting economic cooperation and diplomatic support within the AU.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had geopolitical and geostrategic implications for Zimbabwe, particularly in terms of vaccine diplomacy. China's donation of vaccines to Zimbabwe and other African countries has been viewed as a soft power strategy to challenge the influence of the United States on the African continent.
