PM appeals to Diaspora to help rebuild Zim

He was speaking at a press conference in Cape Town, South Africa where he and a number of senior representatives in the unity government are holding a series of meetings with leading figures from the Diaspora. The meetings entitled The challenges of Economic Reconstruction began in Franschhoek, Cape Town on Thursday.

The meetings are aimed at facilitating dialogue between the government and Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, to find ways to fast-track sustainable economic growth in Zimbabwe. The meeting is hosted by the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), a South African non-governmental organisation that promotes transitional justice initiatives across the African continent.

Tsvangirai said during the press conference that he recognises and values Zimbabweans in the Diaspora and the critical role they can and should play in bolstering sustainable economic growth in Zimbabwe. The Prime Minister stated that he wanted to achieve a closer working relationship with all Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, many of whom are influential Zimbabweans working in leading international intergovernmental, business, and finance institutions.

Dr. Fanie du Toit, executive director of the IJR said that these sessions were a means to facilitate dialogue amongst Zimbabweans and create conditions for sustainable economic growth, which is a deliverable of the Inclusive Government under the GPA.

The IJR is regularly requested to facilitate these kinds of conversations across political and social fault-lines. As South Africans, we experienced the value of conversations such as these which paved the way for our democracy, du Toit said.