Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Drop sanctions to save Zimbabwe, urges S.Africa

Drop sanctions to save Zimbabwe, urges S.Africa
Our Reporter/The Guardian
Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:04:00 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA'S most respected politician has urged the West that democracy can only succeed in Zimbabwe if Britain, the EU and the US reverse their restrictive and illegal sanctions aginst the inclusive Government of Ziombabwe.

That country's finance minister Trevor Manuel said in an interview with Britain's Observer newspaper that Britain and other donors should urgently inject cash into Zimbabwe's treasury rather than give it exclusively to foreign humanitarian agencies if the economy is to be turned around.

Manuel said that if the West does not support the inclusive Government, it is a clear sign that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is not even trusted by his own friends.

"You have to support the (inclusive) Government," Manuel said. "Zimbabwe's foreign friends are opposed to the notion that prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his ministers are just puppets. But if you just have outside agencies running the show, then that notion is amplified. And people will say Tsvangirai is not even trusted by his friends."

Zimbabwe's treasury is bankrupt and the country is currently struggling to raise the £35m-a-month payroll for the country's civil servants, as well as for the police and army.

Education Minister, David Coltart said last week that the inclusive Government might not be able to pay teachers' salaries this month. Last month they were paid a US$100 stipend on top of their salaries to cushion them from the effects of hyperinflation.

Britain which is considered an ally of Prime Minister Tsvangirai has indicated that it will maintain a "wait-and-see" approach before it pours the urgently needed aid. On Wednesday last week the US also indicated that its policy on Zimbabwe had not shifted and that the country was not engaged in any bilateral diplomatic negotiations with Zimbabwe.

Manuel, 53, said the new inclusive Government is racing against time.

"There is a fundamental set of issues that needs to be addressed. But they (the inclusive Government) have to be afforded the opportunity to make a difference."

Manuel claimed his call for direct aid is supported by Mugabe's staunchest critics in Africa, including Botswana's president Ian Khama and Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga.

Manuel's call came after President Mugabe made a speech on Thursday in which for the first time he spoke explicitly in the name of the "inclusive Government" that includes Tendai Biti as Finance Minister and Tsvangirai as Prime Minister.

At the launch of an economic policy document acronymed STERP drafted by Biti, the president said: "I, on behalf of the inclusive Government and the people of Zimbabwe, say, 'Friends of Zimbabwe, please come to our aid'." He appealed for £3.5bn, promised to halt farm invasions and called for an end to sanctions.

Asked to respond to President Mugabe's call, the US said its policy on Zimbabwe would not shift immediately.

"We have not yet seen sufficient evidence that they are on a path to inclusive and effective governance as well as respect for human rights and the rule of law," said state department spokesman Robert Wood.

He added: "So that government has a long way to go before we will consider ... easing sanctions with that government. We're not in any kind of discussion with ... the government of Zimbabwe on removing our ... sanctions.

"With regard to the government, it's got a long way to go before we will look at removing any ... sanctions."

Nordic countries like Denmark and Sweden have, however, expressed willingness to work with the inclusive Government.

Denmark became the first Western country to initiate dialogue with Zimbabwe.

Danish Co-operation Minister Ulla Tornaes arrived in Harare on Tuesday last week on a mission to assess progress in the implementation of Zimbabwe’s power-sharing agreement and explore areas of cooperation between the two countries. The country has pledged to look into how it can assist with payment of civil servants’ salaries.

Swedish Development Aid Minister Gunilla Carlsson said in a statement that the country was willing to work with Zimbabwe and commended the formation of the inclusive Government. The country immediately announced a US$10.5 million package to fight the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe, among other initiatives.

Portugal on Thursday urged the European Union to re-engage Zimbabwe while Japan has indicated that it will lift travel bans on Zimbabwe because it is a safe tourist destination..

Manuel said the African nations could not be expected to pay: "You have to understand this is a region in poverty. If large hearts and deep pockets be the measure of goodwill, you couldn't be asking at a worse time."

Western countries held a donor meeting in Washington on Friday to take stock of their position but there was no indication they intended to extend funding to Zimbabwe's treasury.

Teams from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank are currently in Zimbabwe to study how to resume relations with the country.

-TZG/The Guardian

Labels: SANCTIONS, TREVOR MANUEL

posted by MrK @ 7:43 PM