Zimbabwe’s Uranium Deal with Iran
Zimbabwe is in violation of the international sanctions by signing a secret deal with Iran last year to supply uranium to that country, and this will cause anxiety in the Western world.
Last year the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, visited several African countries with the hope of striking a stronger union and easing the crippling burden of the imposed sanctions against them. He is trying to boost Iran’s economy. It was reported that both Zimbabwe and Uganda had something to offer Iran and several meetings and visits between the countries surfaced.
A Memorandum of Understanding document has emerged and states that Zimbabwe will provide raw materials required to build nuclear weapons to Iran. The Deputy Mining Minister Gift Chimanikire told a British newspaper. Chimanikire is a member of the opposition party and will in all probably be replaced under the new coalition government. He also said that he was unaware of the uranium agreement signed last year, and it was only known to a few top government officials.
Crippling sanctions are imposed against Iran by both the United States and the European Union over its nuclear program. Although Tehran has insisted their program is for peaceful energy uses only. Iran remains under harsh criticism from the Western nations for undertaking its enrichment programs to produce nuclear energy.
Zimbabwe has received a lot of media attention lately regarding the general elections recently that appear to be corrupt and saw the Mugabe regime win another five years term. It is reported that the opposition party MDC has challenged the Mugabe landslide victory in a top court and is requesting a rerun of the election.
Robert Mugabe has in the past endorsed the Iranian Nuclear Program, and has accused the west of trying to exploit the two countries for asserting their independence and wanting to manage their own resources. Zimbabwe remains under international sanctions that are proving to have an adverse effect on the country. Zimbabwe is guilty of damaging the basic human rights of its country’s citizens.
The government of Zimbabwe has dismissed these reports claiming that a contract has been signed. There are some general cooperating agreements between the two countries for the energy, science, technology and agriculture, and it has been reported that the officials need to finalize the deals. It is noted that Zimbabwe would receive oil in exchange for its uranium deposits.
It is known that both Ahmadinejad and Mugabe are known for their controversial policies and anti Western style. Both of these leaders have clung to power by violent elections marred with allegations of fraud.
Analysts have reported that it would not happen quickly, and that there are no uranium reserves ready for export from Zimbabwe. With Mugabe, we can never be sure of the truth and must tread cautiously as he remains a strong unwavering tyrant who will not allow the Western countries to dictate to him. He continues to state that the western world is oppressive and arrogant toward both Iran and Zimbabwe.
Written by Laura Oneale
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