Addressing journalists in the capital, Dell’ Ariccia said the inclusion of Zimbabwe was in response to signals of positive democratisation in the country.
Following the successful holding of a constitutional referendum in mid-March this year EU responded by delisting over 80 Zanu (PF) officials on its restrictive measures on individuals and companies.
“The suspension of EU appropriate measures on development assistance will enable the EU to develop assistance programmes in direct cooperation with the Government of National Unity so that Zimbabwe can benefit from the next cycle of EU development aid from 2014-2020,” Dell’ Ariccia said.
He revealed that the EU had been engaging Zimbabwe in a number of areas since the establishment of the GNU since 2009, saying that had seen trade between the two doubling.
“The European Development Bank is planning to re-launch activities with the private sector in productive initiatives since there is an investment funding gap in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“The EU and its member states have provided $1, 3 billion in development assistance to Zimbabwe since 2009,” he added.
The EDB-Zimbabwe partnership re-engagement would be through the private sector to motivate the government to pay up its arrears while development takes place.
“The government of Zimbabwe owes the European Development Bank 340 million Euros and it is accruing due to interest and so the bank has decided to engage the private sector through the private partnership approach,” he said.
The ambassador added that the investment programme will prioritise the agriculture sector, power generation and infrastructural development.
“…Total funding (for the projects) will depend on programmes and proposals forwarded by the Zimbabwean private sector,” he said.
Dell’ Ariccia said he would host a seminar with 40 Zimbabwean youth to discuss issues that matters most to them in the field of education, employment creation, health and their participation in national development processes, as a way of marking EU Day.
“We will also host the opening of the arts exhibition under the theme ‘Engaging with the Other’ at the National Art Gallery in Harare,” he said.
The exhibition is supported by the EU through the Zimbabwe Culture Fund to the tune of $500, 000 and show cases the works of 15 talented young local artists.
“Arts and culture is critical for reinforcing mutual understanding and further building solid partnership between EU and Zimbabwe,” he said.
Post published in: News