Maravi

(HERALD) US pledges to back Zim at IMF

US pledges to back Zim at IMF
Herald Reporter

UNITED STATES Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Charles Ray, has said Washington will support a motion to restore Zimbabwe’s voting rights in the International Monetary Fund when the board of the multilateral lending institution next meets.

Observers said Ambassador Ray’s statement was tacit admission that contrary to assertions that the sanctions were ‘‘targeted’’ at the Zanu-PF leadership, Washington has maintained an illegal sanctions regime on Zimbabwe since 2001.

Ambassador Ray made the remarks in a brief interview after paying a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe at her offices in Harare yesterday.

"We would want to assure Zimbabwe that once the issue of restoring Zimbabwe’s voting rights in the IMF is put forward for debate at the next IMF sitting, America will fully support the motion," he said.

Ambassador Ray did not say if the support would be followed by a repeal of the sanctions law, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act that was passed in December 2001.

ZDERA binds US executive directors to multilateral lending institutions to oppose and vote against any extension by the respective institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe; or any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any international financial institution.

The sanctions law was passed at the instigation of the unitary MDC legal desk in response to the launch of the Fast Track Land Reform Programme in 2000.

The economic sanctions have curtailed economic production, destroyed savings and livelihoods a development that saw the British government, last year, airlifting its pensioners who were resident here to London after their pensions and savings were rendered worthless by hyperinflation.

DPM Khupe said the lifting of the emargo would speed up economic recovery.

"The inclusive Government has covered enough ground and we feel if financial restrictions are removed Zimbabwe will be able to retain its former status.

"As a country, we are making efforts to economically empower our people so that they do not depend much on donor funds but use their vast natural resources to develop themselves and the country.

"We are blessed with a lot of natural resources which if fully exploited and traded under fair conditions, the nation will definitely prosper," she said.

Sadc, Comesa, the Pan African Parliament, the African Union and the Non-Aligned Move-ment have all called for the immediate lifting of the crippling sanctions.

President Mugabe has on several occasions castigated Western nations for interfering in the domestic affairs of smaller countries saying it is time the developing world used its numerical advantage to institute changes in international relations.

Labels: CHARLES RAY, IMF, NEOCOLONIALISM, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 6:29 AM