Relationship dossier
Switzerland
Zimbabwe
Relationship assessment
Development cooperation and economic arrangements have coexisted with past Swiss sanctions on Zimbabwean officials.
Switzerland toward Zimbabwe
+5Switzerland provided development and humanitarian assistance in Zimbabwe. It also imposed sanctions on Zimbabwean officials during the political crisis of the 2000s, with those measures later lifted.
Zimbabwe toward Switzerland
+10Zimbabwe concluded an investment-protection arrangement with Switzerland, providing a concrete basis for bilateral economic cooperation.
Overall relationship
+5The relationship combines Swiss development and humanitarian assistance and bilateral economic arrangements with a period of political confrontation marked by Swiss sanctions on Zimbabwean officials. The sanctions were later lifted, leaving a mixed relationship with practical cooperative elements.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Switzerland has provided development and humanitarian assistance in Zimbabwe, while also imposing sanctions on Zimbabwean officials during the political crisis of the 2000s; those measures were later lifted. Zimbabwe and Switzerland have also pursued formal economic arrangements, including investment protection. The relationship therefore includes practical cooperation alongside a period of political strain.
Areas of tension
- Swiss sanctions on Zimbabwean officials during the political crisis of the 2000s.
Key developments
Switzerland imposed sanctions on Zimbabwean officials during the political crisis of the 2000s; the measures were later lifted.
Zimbabwe and Switzerland concluded an investment-protection arrangement.
Major uncertainties
- The current scope and implementation of bilateral development cooperation are unclear.
- The practical effects of bilateral investment arrangements are unclear.