A GROUP of development partners will meet in London next week to discuss Zimbabwe’s re-engagement with the international community after a fallout with predominantly Western economies at the turn of the millennium, NewsDay has learnt.
Report by Bernard Mpofu
Friends of Zimbabwe, which comprises the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, European Commission (EC), European Union Council secretariat, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and United Nations — will meet negotiators to the Global Political Agreement to map out a way for re-engagement and more financial assistance.
Regional Integration and International Cooperation minister Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga confirmed that the meeting will be held from March 25 to 26.
Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and Energy minister Elton Mangoma are expected to attend the meeting.
Mangoma said negotiators were expected to apprise the donors on the democratic reforms made by the inclusive government this year.
The meeting will come hard on the heels of the successful referendum on the new constitution amid indications that Zimbabweans will go for harmonised elections in June or July.
“We are going to engage them on what is likely to happen after the referendum as well as show our commitment to re-engagement,” Mangoma said.
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Zimbabwe was relegated to a near pariah state after the EU accused President Robert Mugabe of gross human rights violations in the run-up to the 2002 presidential elections.
The re-engagement process is expected to thaw relations between Zimbabwe and the West as well as improve the country’s perceived risk, widely blamed for discouraging foreign direct investment and capital inflows.
The Friends of Zimbabwe group pledged to extend more financial support to the country should government implement more democratic reforms.
Since meeting with the negotiators in Berlin four years ago, the Friends of Zimbabwe have significantly increased their assistance to the country.
The UN has also played a significant role in facilitating this exercise.
Official development assistance, including humanitarian assistance and food aid, reached $651 million in 2009.
The aid has been directed towards improving services in health, provision of safe water, education, agriculture, social protection and a range of other essential areas, in line with the priorities of the coalition administration.
