HWANGE — Britain has pledged to continue funding Zimbabwean projects until 2014 when the current development aid programme comes to an end, despite strained political relations between Harare and London.
First Secretary for the British Embassy in Zimbabwe, Keith Scott, told NewsDay in Hwange on Tuesday, his country was committed to improving the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans in the countryside.
“The British government has so far subsidised Zimbabwe with about $130 million, the largest expenditure ever in Zimbabwe and it will continue with its work through the disbursement of funds that have been allocated to Zimbabwe which are estimated to cover up to 2014 and maybe part of 2015,” he said.
Scott said in the Zimbabwe Community Partnership Programme conducted in Hwange, the embassy had allocated $65 000 to a non-governmental organisation, Christian Care, the facilitators of the programme.
“We are interested in providing communities with access to healthy food and clean water. That is why we have managed to provide funds for the construction of wells for the people of Hwange,” he said.
He said the UK was a key funder of several development projects in Zimbabwe.
“Britain has played a key role in the assistance of Zimbabwean communities, for instance, some of the medicines in the rural district clinics and major referral centres such as Mpilo are often paid for by the embassy.
“Text books that the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture is putting into schools are paid for by Britain while seeds for the farmers are also often provided by the British Embassy,” he said.
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Scott led a delegation from the embassy in touring and celebrating the Hwange water and livelihood project.
