Zimbabwe’s new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last week asked
neighbouring countries for $2-billion in aid but has so far received no
firm commitments. "What they are really asking for are credit lines
and, of course, as South Africa we have to consider that favourably
because it means their traders, their business people in terms of
economic recovery will be buying whatever they need from South Africa,"
Motlanthe told AFP. "That is one positive element of the response that
is required," Motlanthe said on the sidelines of a socialist conference
on sustainable development held outside Cape Town. Motlanthe said
regional finance ministers, who met in South Africa last week, had yet
to present figures detailing how the region could assist its stricken
neighbour. Zimbabwe’s increasingly desperate financial conditions
prompted the Southern African Development Community to call an
extraordinary summit to deal with the country’s proposals on how to
rebuild its ravaged economy. The summit is likely to be held in South
Africa before the Group of 20 summit in London on April 2. Western
donors say they will not lend money to Zimbabwe or lift sanctions
against Robert Mugabe until the 85-year-old Zanu PF leader proves he is
willing to reform and work with arch-rival Tsvangirai in the new unity
government. The power-sharing deal was implemented in February after
nearly a year of political crisis following disputed elections last
March in which Tsvangirai failed to win an outright majority over
Mugabe, who has ruled since independence in 1980.
ZWNEWS
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Post published in: Agriculture