The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has dismissed recent media reports claiming that the $21,2 million it had so far injected into the constitution-making process was a loan advanced to the Zimbabwe government.
In a statement released over the weekend, the UNDP said contrary to last week’s misleading media reports, the UN body had mobilised a $21,2 million grant for Zimbabwe and not $45 million.
“To clarify, UNDP has mobilised $21,2 million in support of the constitution-making process and not $45 million as claimed in the (State media) article,” said the statement.
“It is also misleading and inaccurate to attribute the alleged increase in Zimbabwe’s foreign debt to donor funds extended to Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) through the UNDP for the constitution-making process.
“UNDP again clarifies that the $21,2 million is a voluntary grant from donors towards the national constitution-making process. It is not a credit, as erroneously stated in the article, and there is no expectation whatsoever of repayment or interest on the facility.”
State media last week reported that Zimbabwe’s foreign debt had ballooned from $10,7 billion following the UNDP grant.
Copac early this year said it had run out of funds and needed $1,5 million for thematic committees.
Copac has previously come under fire from civil society groups who accused the body of being a money-spinning scheme for individuals involved in the drafting process.
