HARARE, Zimbabwe — Three weeks after the 37-year rule of Robert Mugabe came to an end, Zimbabwe’s new military-backed leaders made moves on Friday to improve economic relations with the West, as they continued to consolidate power ahead of elections next year.

“We call for the unconditional lifting of the political and economic sanctions, which have crippled our national development,” said the new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who led the annual congress of the governing party, ZANU-PF, this week.

Mr. Mugabe long whipped up domestic support by blaming sanctions imposed by Western governments for Zimbabwe’s economic collapse, though most economists point instead to mismanagement of the resource-rich economy.

Mr. Mnangagwa, 75, who is serving the remainder of Mr. Mugabe’s term — which was scheduled to end next August — promised “credible, free and fair” elections. Western officials have indicated that Zimbabwe would be considered for loans from the International Monetary Fund and other creditors only after holding free elections as well as showing improvement in human rights and other areas.