The minister said the new Zimbabwe government has not approached
Botswana for help and any decisions on a financial bail-out will be
taken at the next meeting of the regional body – SADC. Mr Gaolathe said
Botswana will consider a request for help from Zimbabwe but its ability
to assist might be severely limited by the global financial crisis. "In
the case of Zimbabwe, what we intend to do is try our best to persuade
organisations that are capable of helping like the World Bank and IMF
to make a meaningful contribution..," he said. Gaolathe was reacting to
reports quoting Eddie Cross, a policy adviser to Zimbabwe Prime
Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, saying that regional countries and the
European Union will give emergency funding to Zimbabwe after the new
government lasts for 100 days. Previously, Botswana had given the
Zimbabwe government P1 million (about $125,000) for fuel as a loan that
was never paid. Recently, Botswana gave P3 million in humanitarian aid
to Zimbabwe but the money was channelled through NGOs. It is estimated
that currently, the Zimbabwe government needs $5 billion to recover.
Gaolathe said in Gaborone that Zimbabwe has informed African finance
ministers that $2 billion is needed immediately to run the country till
the end of the year.
The Daily Nation (Kenya)