ZIMBABWE was conspicuous by its absence at the recently held US-Africa Business Summit held in Houston, Texas, in stark contrast to last year’s edition held in Botswana attended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and several other regional leaders, The NewsHawks has learnt.
NATHAN GUMA
Since taking over from long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017, Mnangagwa under his “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra undertook to anchor the country’s foreign policy on economic diplomacy with the international community.
The business summit, hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), enables leaders to connect with government and private sector decision makers to drive US-Africa sustainable business partnerships.
The CCA, established in 1993, is the premier US business organisation focused exclusively on promoting greater US-Africa trade, investment, and business partnerships.
While President Mnangagwa attended the previous edition in 2023 hosted by Botswana, his name did not appear on the list of confirmed heads of state who were part of this year’s edition held between 6-9 May in Texas, US.
Zimbabwe, which has been taking every opportunity to attract foreign direct investment, did not send a delegation to the summit, with 16 countries sending ministerial delegations.
The US-Africa Business Summit brings together US and African government and private sector leaders, including African heads of state, ministers, chief executive officers and senior executives of American and African companies, institutional investors, and international financial institution representatives, to explore and expand trade, investment, and business opportunities.
Contacted for comment on why Zimbabwe was not represented at the highest level this time around, the spokesperson of the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Livit Mugejo, directed questions sent to another spokesperson, Micheal Mukura. He did not respond.
Regional heads of state who attended were Liberian President Joseph Boakai, Malawian leader Lazarus Chakwera, Angolan President Joao Lourenço, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Cabo Verde President José Maria Neves and Kashim Shettima, Vice-President of Nigeria.
Also in attendance were Nthomeng Majara, Lesotho deputy prime minister and David Sengeh, chief minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
The summit was also attended by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US representative to the United Nations, Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and Reta Jo Lewis, the president and chair of the board of the US Export Import-Bank (EXIM), among others.
World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was also in attendance, and Wamkele Mene, secretary-general of the African Continental Free Trade Area secretariat.
According to the US-Africa factsheet, the US-Africa Summit is important for enhancing bilateral trade, investment, and commercial opportunities and promoting women’s and youth entrepreneurship, among other outcomes.
In 2022, Zimbabwe was for the first time invited to the US-Africa high-level meeting, attended by 49 heads of state, after Washington relaxed conditions for Zimbabwe. However, Harare was represented at a lower level by Foreign minister Fredrick Shava because of travel restrictions slapped on Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa has remained sanctioned despite US President Joe Biden’s termination of the US Zimbabwe sanctions programme, unblocking all individuals, entities and property that had been blocked under that authority.
Mnangagwa and 11 other individuals, who include First Lady Auxillia, were in March targeted with fresh sanctions under the US Global Magnitsky (GloMag) sanctions programme.
Three companies linked to Mnangagwa’s ally and businessman Kuda Tagwireyi, were also sanctioned under the latest punitive measures. They were sanctioned for corruption and human rights violations.
As previously reported by The NewsHawks in July last year, presidential spokesperson George Charamba hinted that there were overtures to bar President Mnangagwa from attending the summit held in Gaborone.
“With host President Dr. Masisi, Botswana extended an invitation to Zimbabwe in spite of objections from some within Corporate Council for Africa and from elements within the American establishment,” he revealed via his X handle Tinoedzazvimwe1 last year.
“Walking to the venue of the Conference in the company of the President of Niger. The US-Africa Business Summit follows up on decisions of the US-Africa Summit held towards end of last year in Washington.
“On the insistence of the US government, Zimbabwe was represented by Hon Dr. Shava, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The US Government continues to pursue a policy of petty vindictiveness in spite of the fact that Zimbabwe under the Second Republic has avowed a policy of friendship to all and enmity to none. Africa, led by Sadc countries has adopted a policy of opposing US’ ruinous policies towards Zimbabwe, an effort commemorated yearly on 25th October.”
