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Vice President Joice Mujuru greets outgoing Belgian ambassador Mr Maricom Johan during a courtesy call at her Munhumutapa offices in Harare yesterday

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Belgium has said it will advocate the complete removal of the illegal economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe ahead of the European Union council meeting in November.
Speaking after bidding farewell to Vice President Joice Mujuru at her Munhumutapa offices yesterday, outgoing Belgian ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Maricou Johan said there was nothing amiss in Zimbabwe.

He said relations between the EU and the country should normalise for the benefit of both parties.

As such, he said, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre president Mr Stéphane Fischler was headed for Zimbabwe for the Mining, Engineering and Transport Exhibition (Mine Entra 2014) set for July 23 to 25.

Antwerp World Diamond Centre based in Belgium, is the world’s leading diamond trading bourse.

Mr Johan said Brussels was in favour of the total removal of the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries.

“We are, within the EU, a strong advocate of trying to normalise relations between the bloc and Zimbabwe,” he said.

“We should work in favour of lifting the remaining sanctions and this is what we have to do.  Of course, we are an EU member State and work on the basis of consensus, but I hope that in the near future we will reach a consensus about lifting the remaining sanctions.”

Mr Johan added: “Belgium has been at the forefront towards the lifting of sanctions, trying to normalise relations with Zimbabwe and we will continue doing so.”

Belgium pushed for the removal of sanctions on the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) following the endorsement of Zimbabwe’s harmonised elections last year, a move that put it at odds with other EU countries such as Britain.

Mr Johan said the delisting of the ZMDC from the sanctions list was a positive development as Marange diamonds could now be traded at Antwerp.

He said Belgium had confidence in the future of Zimbabwe.

Mr Johan said the economic situation in Zimbabwe had significantly improved since 2008.

Turning to the meeting with the Vice President, Mr Johan said: “Our conversation was basically about our bilateral relations, how we are trying to contribute somehow to the development of your country and I mentioned the case of more than 80 post-graduate students in our various universities.”

The EU suspended sanctions on all entities and individuals in February, with the exception of the First Family and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries.

The illegal sanctions, imposed between 2001 and 2002, are estimated to have cost the country US$42 billion since then, forcing many companies to close shop or relocate to other countries.

Government is suing the EU over the sanctions and the financial losses associated with the illegal embargo.