HARARE Western donors will meet in Norway next month to develop a common approach to Zimbabwe in the wake of lack of progress in the implementation of a power-sharing pact signed by Harares main political parties 20 months ago. (Pictured: Jonas Gahr Stre, Norwegian
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said the informal donor group, Friends of Zimbabwe, would meet in Oslo on June 1 to discuss developments in the southern African country. The aim of the meeting is to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe and a common approach for the way ahead, Stre said as Norway unveiled new humanitarian aid for Harare last week.
Friends of Zimbabwe comprises the US, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, European Commission (EC), EU Presidency, EU Council Secretariat, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and the UN. It last met in Berlin, Germany, in October 2009 when Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirais MDC-T had suspended cooperation with Zanu (PF) in the fragile coalition government the parties had formed seven months earlier.
The donors expressed frustration about the slow pace of implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed by President Robert Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara of a smaller MDC faction in September 2008.
They, however, pledged increased support for the people of Zimbabwe, gradually shifting from measures aimed at purely humanitarian relief to substantial longer-term assistance in a number of sectors which are crucial for the rapid improvement of living conditions for the people. Total official development assistance to Zimbabwe, excluding in kind assistance such as food aid, was increased from US$580 million in 2008 to US$630 million last year.
Stre said Norway and other donors were still disappointed by the lack of progress in implementation of the GPA and would want to see greater movement on consummation of the power-sharing pact. The persistent violations of human rights are also cause for concern. It is now important to work for free and fair elections,” Stre said.
Mugabe has refused to implement GPA provisions allowing far-reaching political reforms until the removal of Western visa restrictions and an asset freeze imposed on himself and members of the Zanu (PF) inner circle. He said sanctions were imposed at the instigation of the MDC-T and insists that Tsvangirai calls for their removal. Norway said it was increasing humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe this year to 30 million kroners (about US$4.7 million), citing what it called the grave situation in the southern African country.
Stre said Oslo was raising the amount of relief aid to Harare by more than 30 per cent due to the situation in Zimbabwe, which is cause for grave concern. Up to 2.5 million Zimbabweans are expected to need food aid in 2010. In addition to the humanitarian assistance, Norway said it would provide over 100 million kroners (about US$16 million) to development projects in Zimbabwe via the UN system and civil society organisations.
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