A staffer with the Prime Minister’s Delegation Writes from Brussels

Brussels, Belgium 18 June 2009 1900hrs

Getting Zimbabwe and the 27-member European Union back on talking terms would arguably be the defining moment for Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s European tour.low res solana and pm2.jpg

Among the key European leaders attending the Zimbabwe/EU Dialogue were Hon. Jan Kohout (Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic and President of the Council of the European Union), Hon. Carl Bild (Foreign Minister of Sweden), Hon. Javier Solana (EU High Representative for the Common foreign and security policy), and Mr. Louis Michel (European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid). An outcome of the Dialogue was an EU pledge of transitional support to Zimbabwe.

“Va Prime Minister kuda zvimwe midzimu yeZimbabwe inokudai.” Loosely translated, “Mr Prime Minister, it appears Zimbabwe’s ancestral spirits love you” said Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Simbarashe Mumbengegwi. After the Prime Minister’s launch, a meeting was held between the Director General of The European Union Commission and Zimbabwe’s ministerial delegation comprising Ministers Hon. Mumbengegwi (ZANU PF), Hon. Priscilla Misihairambwi–Mushonga (Regional Integration & International Cooperation, MDC-M), Hon. Tendai Biti (Finance, MDC-T) and Hon. Welshman Ncube (Industry & Commerce, MDC-M). The meeting discussed modalities of the dialogue, time lines of dialogue and agenda items. Also under discussion in the same meeting was the joint commitment plan of both short- and long-term assistance, political and institutional reforms as outlined in the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

After launching the dialogue, Prime Minister Tsvangirai, in his capacity as Head of Delegation, immediately tasked four delegation members to continue discussions with EU officials on the Zimbabwe question.

Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa, who was meant to participate in the discussions, missed the meeting as his flight was delayed in Frankfurt. When he eventually arrived to Brussels, the Troika meetings were largely concluded.