Mnangagwa 'making right noise over economy, but vote won't be fair' - ISS

Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, is pictured during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland.

South African think tank, the Institute for Security Studies, says Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is "making the right noise" over the revitalisation of the country's economy but "it's impossible to hold free and fair elections without reforms".

In an interview with News24, ISS senior researcher, Derek Matyszak, said Mnangagwa was going to gain international backing and trust when it came to revitalising the country's economy.

"He's certainly making the right kind of noise regarding the economy and he would obviously earn international backing and trust on that front. He is signalling a serious intent on economic reforms," said Matyszak.


Mnangagwa said at the the World Economic Forum in Davos (WEF) last week that economic and trade corporation issues would be top priorities of his new government.

The president said that his message to the world was that Zimbabwe was open for business, and would look at all legislation to see what had been preventing investors from coming in.

Mnangagwa said investors were free to come and invest in any sector, including minerals, with the exception of the diamond and platinum sectors.