crisis-torn Zimbabwe despite the frosty diplomatic relations.
In an overview of EU-Zimbabwe current cooperation released by the bloc’s diplomatic mission in Harare this week, the 25-member body said it had funded seven projects in Zimbabwe in 2005 to the tune of 70 million Euros.
The EU is the largest donor in Health and Education sectors in Zimbabwe, contributing 18,5 million Euros towards the sectors in 2005 alone. The overview says 16 million Euros has already been approved for 2006-07 for these activities and to develop incentives to address the acute shortage of health personnel in rural areas.
“The essential drugs programme comprises vital items such as anti-Tuberculosis (TB) drugs and antibiotics to prevent HIV related opportunistic infections and to treat sexually transmitted infections,” the EU report says. The EU has unveiled 14 million Euros for HIV and Aids related services in 35 districts.
Through its humanitarian arm ECHO, the EU is assisting over 8 million Zimbabweans in various sectors, key among them food security, home-based HIV/Aids care, water and sanitation, nutrition, orphans and vulnerable children.
The powerful body also revealed that it provided support to civil society in Zimbabwe, essentially through thematic budgetline funds.
“It provides support predominantly to civilian organizations and NGOs and to relevant international organizations for actions aiming at alleviating the level of poverty and promoting human rights and governance,” the overview says. “More specifically, the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights aims at promoting human rights, democracy, rule of law and conflict prevention by providing financial support for activities promoting these goals in Zimbabwe and around the world.”
The EU said since 2002 its relationship with Zimbabwe had “profoundly deteriorated.” It said major disagreements arose over the deployment of the 2002 EU observer mission which led the EU council to adopt a common position on restrictive measures such as the prohibition of arms supply and also targeted sanctions, a travel ban and the freezing of assets against a President Mugabe and his cronies.
“Trade relations have not been affected, and the EU remains a strong trading partner of Zimbabwe,” the overview says. “Interest in EU export markets remains high in Zimbabwe and businesses from Zimbabwe are regularly consulting the export help-desk of the European Commission.”
The EU said the possibility of fully reestablishing cooperation between the EU and Zimbabwe remained a reality.
“Through effective dialogue between the EU and Zimbabwe on issues of concern, a full partnership could be reinstated between the two parties.” – Own correspondent
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