(HERALD) Sadc to hold Zim aid summit
Sadc to hold Zim aid summitHerald Reporter
SADC leaders will, on Monday next week, meet in Cape Town, South Africa, to discuss proposals put forward on Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and the political crisis in Madagascar.
The Sadc Council of Ministers has already endorsed a proposal to assist Zimbabwe in its recovery plan, including availing a financial package.
Zimbabwe has said it would need about US$2 billion, half of that in the form of credit and the other half in the form of development budget support to kick-start the recovery programme.
"The proposals on Zimbabwe and Madagascar will be discussed and decisions taken at the meeting," the spokesman in the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ronnie Mamoepa, said.
Speaking after the Council of Ministers meeting earlier this month, South African Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the regional bloc was determined to help Zimbabwe mobilise resources for economic recovery.
South African President Kgalema Motlanthe convened the meeting in his capacity as Sadc chairman. During the meeting, a Zimbabwean delegation presented proposals on the recovery programme.
Government has said it would need a US$1 billion loan to stimulate retail and related industries and another US$1 billion for emergencies such as education, health municipal services and infrastructure.
Sadc is also keen to see Zimbabwe normalise strained relations with the Bretton Woods institutions — the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which cut lines of credit as part of the illegal economic sanctions.
Mr Mamoepa told Sapa that next Monday’s meeting follows a Sadc Council of Ministers’ meeting which expressed concern over what it considers an unconstitutional power transfer in Madagascar.
One of the proposals is to impose sanctions against Andry Rajoelina and those who helped him force President Marc Ravalomanana’s resignation on Tuesday last week.
Rajoelina, who was not elected, has been sworn in as president, with the Sadc chair saying it will not recognise him in that capacity.
Mr Mamoepa said the summit would be hosted by President Motlanthe and would be preceded by the Sadc Council of Ministers meeting to be hosted by Dr Dlamini-Zuma.
Dr Dlamini-Zuma heads the Council of Ministers.
Labels: KGALEMA MOTLANTHE, SADC, ZIMBABWE
posted by MrK @ 5:31 PM
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