Harare - Filing details of contract between the government of Zimbabwe and a US based PR consultancy firm Ballard Partners emerged on Wednesday, a day after the US extended an almost 2 decade long sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Ballard Partners controlled by Trump campaign fundraiser Brian Ballard, is the first firm to lobby for Zimbabwe in a decade. In a statement the firm said it will counsel Zimbabwe on communication with the US government officials, business entities and NGO audiences.
The services will come at a steep price of half a million dollars a year and is expected to smoothen the thawing relationship between Harare and Washington which has resulted in sustained sanction while contributing to the prolonged economic decline in Zimbabwe.
The filing statement further it will be the main objective of the firm to encourage a re-examination of Zimbabwe by the State Department of US with a view to establishing the best possible bilateral relationship with the US and facilitating the restoration of Zimbabwe’s membership in good standing in the community of nations.
The move comes barely a few hours after US President extended sanctions on Zimbabwe citing further abuse of human rights among other bad governance practices in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe through its Foreign Affairs Ministry has responded by calling out the US, defending its human rights record and the tone set by the new government in terms of election conduct and improved democratic space. The government further stressed the need for an unconditional removal of sanctions which it argues are unjustified and affect the poor the most.
The ruling party has however been harsh in its response advancing rhetorics which were popular during the Mugabe era, without any conciliatory undertones.
The move to court a Washington lobby shows how desperate the government of Zimbabwe is deep down, in mending relations with the States.
The country is however not willing to play ball in line with the demands of the US. The government, ruling party and its apologists choose to classify the sanctions as illegal.
In recent months business executives and clergymen have spoken out against sanctions. They argue that the sanctions are economic and significantly weigh on the country’s ability to do business with the rest of the world.
Supporters of the opposition on the contrary believe sanctions are the only leverage at hand to force the ruling party into reforms and observation of fundamental human rights.
-Equity Axis News
