UK pledges K124bn humanitarian support for Zim

UK pledges K124bn humanitarian support for Zim
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Sunday, April 26, 2009 2:54:48 PM

THE United Kingdom has pledged £15 million [about K124.7 billion] humanitarian support for Zimbabwe. But no money from the UK will pass through the government of Zimbabwe systems or through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

British International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander announced on Thursday that the £15 million package would help the people of Zimbabwe.

In a media statement issued by the British High Commission in Lusaka on Thursday, this humanitarian package would help address a number of urgent priorities identified by the new inclusive government of Zimbabwe and it would build on existing UK support, which amounted to £49 million [about K407 billion] last year.

"This critical humanitarian aid will mean increased support for the country's health system, greater access to clean water and more support for struggling farmers in Zimbabwe.

This UK assistance will help to: strengthen distribution systems for front-line health clinics with improved access to life-saving medication and basic healthcare for vulnerable people; improve capacity to respond to future health epidemics; reduce the likelihood of large-scale cholera outbreaks in the future by ensuring greater access to clean water; improve the supply and availability of food for up to three million people by providing seeds and fertiliser, and boosting smallholder farming, thereby reducing reliance on emergency food aid; support the welfare of people who have been forced to leave their homes; strengthen the capacity of national systems which provide essential basic services," the mission stated.

And British High Commissioner to Zambia Tom Carter said the creation of a more inclusive government in Zimbabwe represented a real opportunity for much-needed change and the UK welcomed efforts by the new government to deliver economic, social and political reform.

He said credible progress would attract increasing support from donors and other partners to tackle the root causes of Zimbabwe's problems.

"The welfare of the people of Zimbabwe remains a major concern, with the humanitarian situation continuing to cause great hardship for millions," High Commissioner Carter said. "The UK remains committed to providing humanitarian support, which is why we are announcing £15m in additional assistance to ensure that people have food to eat, and access to life-saving health services."

The new inclusive government of Zimbabwe came into being in February this year with the appointment of opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) president Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister, MDC faction leader Professor Arthur Mutambara as deputy prime minister and inclusion of several MDC members as ministers and deputy ministers, while President Robert Mugabe remains as head of state and government.

The new government in Zimbabwe has published a Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme for Zimbabwe (STERP) that highlights priorities in terms of improving food security, tackling disease and strengthening health systems, addressing water and sanitation problems and improving capacity to provide basic services to Zimbabweans.