The implications of ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ to Re-engagement Efforts with the International Community

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to explore the implications of ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ to re-engagement efforts with the international community following the ousting of the late former president of Zimbabwe Robert G. Mugabe in a military assisted operation code named ‘restore legacy’, in November 2017. The study employed qualitative research methodology and a case study research design of Zimbabwe was used. Key informants for the study were drawn from the President’s office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ministry of Finance and Economic development from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs while documentary search was used to review scholarly literature on the subject. ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra came into the fore during president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s famous inaugural speech as an attempt to signify a departure from the ‘old dispensation’s way of doing things and to rebrand and re-sell Zimbabwe as an attractive foreign direct investment destination. The success stories of the new political dispensation were quite notable immediately after the military putsch. Notwithstanding the military involvement, a number of formerly ‘hostile’ western governments, e.g. Britain, seemed to have embraced the new dispensation, for instance, with talks of rejoining the commonwealth well on course. However the positive strides were soon hampered by issues of legitimacy which ensued after president Mnangagwa’s disputed victory in the 2018 general elections. This research revealed that events of the first of August 2018, and January 2019, cases of rampant corruption, rule of law (or lack thereof) resulted in the waning of the re-engagement efforts under the mantra ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’, and as such failed to achieve meaningful foreign direct investments. In order to rebuild the confidence and international rapport towards Zimbabwe, the study notes the critical role which can be played by implementing political and economic reforms and combating corruption. Other recommendations are to engage in holistic inclusive dialogue mediated by a neutral arbiter.