The Financial Gazette

BULAWAYO — The leadership in the second largest city in Zimbabwe and its hinterland is divided over the planned four-day visit by a high-level European Union (EU) delegation, slatted for January 30 to February 2, 2012.
While ZANU-PF representatives are opposed to the visit, citing the issue of sanctions imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle by the EU and the United States, business leaders and the City Fathers in Bulawayo said they will welcome the delegation with open arms.
Cain Mathema, the metropolitan governor for Bulawayo, said he will snub the delegation because the 27-member EU bloc was directly responsible for the stagnation of the country’s second largest city due to sanctions.
“What are they coming to Bulawayo for? I do not want to see them in my office and I don’t want to talk to them, if ever they are going to come as you are saying. Bulawayo’s economy is dead because of the sanctions they imposed on us in collaboration with the MDC. Why are they coming to Matabeleland in particular, of all the areas in Zimbabwe? In the first place, why can’t they engage us nationally,” fumed Mathema.
EU head of delegation in Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell’Ariccia, will lead the delegation. The team will engage with local economic, social and political actors on its commitment to the development of the Matabeleland region.
Dell’Ariccia will also officially open the ‘’EU Corner’’ at the Bulawayo Public Library besides touring projects supported by the EU.
The EU, along with the US, Australia and Canada, imposed targeted sanctions on the incumbent  and more than 200 of his lieutenants between 2002 and 2005.
The EU is set to review the targeted measures in two weeks time when its member states meet in the Belgian capital, Brussels.
ZANU-PF blames the targeted measures for the country’s political and economic problems.
There are, however, high expectations among business leaders and the city fathers in Bulawayo ahead of the visit.
Peter Mkhwananzi, the chairperson of the Matabeleland Businesses Association (MBA), described the visit as an opportunity that should be grabbed and utilised to the full.
“In our production, we lack capital and the technical expertise where we would like the EU to chip in and assist us as MBA. We had also this year identified a number of companies in Bulawayo that need to be resuscitated and with the EU coming this side next week; we expect a meaningful engagement on how the bloc can chip in and assist us in reviving our industry”, he said.
Bulawayo mayor, Thaba Moyo told The Financial Gazette that the delegation was welcome in the city.
“As long as they are coming in good faith to help us solve our problems, we have no quarrels with that. We have always had an open door policy. We listen to what other people are saying and then take action later after wide consultations with residents,” said Moyo.
Among the thorny issues in the city that Moyo hoped the EU would assist in resolving include service delivery, which has suffered from lack of funding. — Own Correspondent.