JOHANNESBURG Harare must put an end to political violence, ensure return to rule of law and embark on media reform to ensure transition to democracy, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said on Tuesday without making any commitment on aid following his meeting with Zimbabwean Premier Morgan Tsvangirai in Stockholm. (Pictured: Swedish Prime“Politically motivated violence needs to be stopped,” Reinfeldt said at a news briefing. “The rule of law and freedom of the media must be established.”
Tsvangirai, who formed a power sharing government with President Robert Mugabe in February, was in the Swedish capital as part of a three-week trip to America and Europe to try to drum up financial support for Harare.
The Zimbabwean Premier said he understood the concerns raised and agreed that Harare still needed to do more. “I would be the last one . . . to say everything is rosy,” he said. “There are some gaps.”
The Swedish leader whose country assumes the rotating European Union (EU) presidency in July said Stockholm was ready to support Zimbabwes transition to democracy adding that there were some positive signs already in the southern African country.
“We are determined to do as much as we can to support the transition to democracy and increase the respect for human rights in Zimbabwe. This will be an important task during the Swedish EU presidency.”
Relations between Zimbabwe and the EU soured in 2002 with Brussels accusing Mugabes government of human rights violations, stealing elections and failure to uphold the rule of law. The EU has since 2002 maintained visa and financial sanctions against Mugabe and his inner circle.
Reinfeldt urged Zimbabwe to push through more economic and political reforms including reforming its central bank to ensure greater transparency in its financial system.
Sweden a long-standing provider of humanitarian support to Zimbabwe last month said restoration of normal ties with Harare will depend on full implementation of last Septembers power sharing agreement between Mugabe and his former opposition foes.
On Friday Tsvangirai met United States President Barack Obama in Washington before meeting German leader Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday. Obama pledged US$73 million to help fight AIDS and promote good governance while Germany offered US$35 million for humanitarian assistance.
The Zimbabwean Premier is also due to meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy as well as the leaders of Norway, Denmark, Belgium and senior European Union officials.
Post published in: News