President Emmerson Mnangagwa
By Dickson Bandera
Zimbabwe has approved a new Foreign Relations and International Trade Policy, a strategic framework designed to boost economic growth, strengthen diplomatic ties, and promote the welfare of Zimbabweans at home and abroad.
Announcing the decision this week, the Government said the policy seeks to position Zimbabwe as a peaceful and cooperative global player while opening new avenues for trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
The policy is anchored on key goals that include creating a peaceful and secure international environment for Zimbabwe’s development, boosting local production for international markets, promoting international tourism, and fostering cooperation in education, science, technology, innovation, and culture. It also prioritises protecting and promoting the rights and interests of Zimbabweans living in the diaspora.
According to the government, the blueprint will be implemented under Zimbabwe’s Doctrine on Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, guided by six core principles:
Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo (the country is built by its own people);
Commitment to overcoming colonial mindsets;
The principle of leaving no one and no place behind;
The “friend to all and enemy to none” approach;
The “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” mantra; and
The pledge that “Zimbabwe will never be a colony again.”
The policy’s adoption comes at a time when Zimbabwe continues to tackle challenges linked to years of isolation, economic sanctions, and strained diplomatic relations with some Western countries following the land reform programme of the early 2000s.
In recent years, the Second Republic has prioritised re-engagement and economic diplomacy under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, encapsulated in the policy thrust: “Zimbabwe is a Friend to All and an Enemy to None.”
Key hurdles the new policy aims to address include attracting foreign direct investment, reintegrating into global value chains, expanding export markets for Zimbabwean products, reviving the critical tourism sector, and safeguarding the rights and welfare of millions of Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
A modernised foreign service and an active diplomatic corps are also seen as vital to restoring Zimbabwe’s global standing and driving its economic vision in line with Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy.
Zimbabwe’s foreign relations have evolved significantly since the early 2000s — from deep diplomatic isolation to a phase of cautious re-engagement with former partners and new allies alike.
At the height of sanctions and strained ties, Zimbabwe leaned on its “Look East” policy to strengthen partnerships with Asian countries and regional allies to sustain the economy. Today, the country is taking deliberate steps to rebuild trust and reconnect with the wider global community.
Signs of this diplomatic thaw are evident. High-level delegations from the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), and other Western states have returned to Harare for renewed political and economic dialogue. Major international organisations have also expanded development and humanitarian support in areas such as health, education, governance, and climate resilience.
France, a longstanding partner, has increased its presence through high-level engagements and backing for conservation, climate, along with cultural and heritage projects. Sweden continues to support civil society, gender equality, and clean energy access, while Germany has resumed technical cooperation focusing on vocational training, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture to help boost local skills and food security.
The EU, meanwhile, has promoted tariff-free exports from Zimbabwe through an initiative, which grants duty-free and quota-free access to EU markets for goods from least developed countries. In addition, the EU is supporting programmes in Zimbabwe that promote human rights, climate-smart agriculture, health system strengthening, and livelihoods for smallholder farmers and rural communities.
This growing international goodwill demonstrates a broader shift towards rebuilding trust, unlocking investment, and reintegrating Zimbabwe into the global economy.
The newly approved Foreign Relations and International Trade Policy cements this approach — signalling Zimbabwe’s readiness to deepen old friendships, forge new partnerships, and secure sustainable development for its people.
