Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Biti calls for lifting of sanctions

COMMENT - HIPC is prevented by ZDERA, Section 4C Multilateral Finance Restriction, point (2):

(c) MULTILATERAL FINANCING RESTRICTION- ... the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each international financial institution to oppose and vote against--

(1) any extension by the respective institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe; or
(2) any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any international financial institution.

Biti calls for lifting of sanctions
Nyasha Marimbe
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:37:00 +0000

FINANCE Minister Tendai Biti has called for the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe, breaking ranks with his party's top leadership that refers to them as "restrictive measures".

A report in the Herald newspaper says Biti authored a document entitled "Debt and Arrears Clearance Strategy" in which he advocates the lifting of the illegal sanctions that the West imposed on Zimbabwe.

In the document Biti is said to identify the so-called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera) — as a major outstanding issue which must be addressed before the economy can develop.

"He, however, abrogates the MDC-T of the duty to lead the anti-sanctions lobby that he says should be led by a group of 'Elders' like ex-US president Jimmy Carter and former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan," says the daily newspaper.

Biti said his proposed thrust would only work if sanctions were busted.

"This strategy will be complemented by the need to repeal the Zimbabwe Economic and Democracy Act (Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act) of 2001, through lobbying for support for Zimbabwe’s position in the USA Congress and Senate.

"This could be done by Government approaching such former US Presidents like Jim Carter and Bill Clinton using other luminaries such as J(ohn) Kuffour (Ghana), K(enneth) Kaunda (Zambia) and (J)oaquim Chissano (Mozambique) through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"This should be seen within the context of the Government’s overall strategy of busting sanctions through engaging the European Union, the Commonwealth and the USA," said Biti.

Biti yesterday confirmed that he had presented the document to Cabinet and he becomes the second senior MDC-T member to admit to the reality of sanctions.

Early this month, co-Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa told a meeting of his colleagues and police chiefs at an Interpol conference that illegal sanctions had negatively affected the economy and the Zimbabwe Republic Police had not been spared.

Labels: GILES MUTSEKWA, SANCTIONS, TENDAI BITI, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 3:28 PM