via Zim government appears on the verge of a UN bailout | SW Radio Africa by Mthulisi Mathuthu December 9, 2013
The United Nations (UN) could soon bail out Zimbabwe after Harare asked the organisation to scale down its humanitarian projects and fund the ZANU PF government’s economic revival programmes.
ZANU PF’s economic revival blue print, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset), which has been struggling to secure funding, stands to benefit if the UN obliges. Zim Asset aims to achieve 10 percent economic growth by 2018, which is the year Zimbabwe is expected to go for the next election. The government also claims that it wants to revive the dilapidated infrastructure, revive industry and pay off the country’s debts.
According to reports the government made its request during the annual meeting of the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework in Harare a fortnight ago.
A Mail & Guardian report said although the UN is willing to assist it is ‘concerned about cutting its aid provision’. But according to the same report the Deputy Secretary to the president and cabinet, Dr Ray Ndlukula, said the UN country team and the government have ‘agreed’ on the deal. In the same report, the UN’s communication specialist, Sirak Gebrehiwot, appears to confirm the development as he is quoted saying ‘objectives of the UN are informed by national priorities and internationally agreed goals’.
However, the news immediately provoked fury in some quarters. The National Association of Nongovernmental Organisations Chief Executive, Cephas Zinuwe, condemned the move by Harare as an ‘act of desperation’ and an indication that the government was ‘clearly broke’. Zinuwe urged the government to strengthen bilateral relations with China, Britain and the USA and to come up with innovative ways to attract funding instead of diverting donor funding.
In London the Zimbabwe Vigil expressed shock and outrage at the prospect of the Zimbabwean government obtaining direct funding from the UN. In a statement on Sunday the Vigil said to bail out the government would be akin to funding the ‘illegal regime’s pie in the sky development plan’.
The Vigil said the Mugabe regime should not have any say in how international aid to Zimbabwe is used because of ‘clear evidence of ZANU PF’s corruption, including the systematic theft of diamonds which should fund its economic plan’.
In a letter to the secretary for international development, Justine Greening, the Vigil urged the UK government to ‘step up’ its ‘surveillance’ to ensure that none of its aid is ‘diverted for Mugabe’s political purposes’.
Vigil coordinator Dennis Benton told SW Radio Africa that it was ‘unacceptable’ for the Mugabe regime to receive any form of funding when it was not open about the Chiadzwa diamond revenue. Benton said they have approached the UK government because some of its money destined for Zimbabwe’s poor is channeled through the UN agencies.
COMMENTS
They lie UN will NEVER divert funds to give Zimbabwe cash. That’s silly postulation and we know very well that this ZANU illegal govt is lying and lies and want to deceive the people and say look our failure to deliver is because UN when asked for money refused us because of America and Britain Mugabe should go and get money from China Why not ask China to bail it out Desperate kicks of a dying donkey
True that
Its very simple, fresh free and fair elections under UN supervision and then we can ask for the money, whoever wins the election, otherwise what’s the point? Proping up Zanu PF and to what benefit? They have already stolen 2 Billion USD from diamonds in the last 2 years, can anyone really do this to a people who have suffered so much?
use those Swiss bank accounts, send that money back. Is Gono investing his money in Zim or else where?
Gono wamunotaura uyu haachina mari. Wakambomuona here mazuva ano?
I cannot believe that the UN is stupid enough to give aid directly to the Zim Govt. If they do it will only be stolen in the time honoured tradition!!
Its very sad to see black zimbabweans campaining their own country. Its us the poor people who suffer not the politicians. elsewhere corruption is rampant including close to home south afica but do you hear them campaigning for the sabotage of their economy. the mentality of zimbabweans especially in the diaspora leaves a lot to be desired.
people love their country, don’t be mistaken. the problem now is that people are tired of this regime and their dirty tactics from massive corruption that goes unpunished to elction rigging. we cannot support an abusive father..
Yes! fresh and free and fair elections. We cannot build this nation on the lie and sin that it is now! We will be building in the sand. No repentance! No restoration!
Desperate times calls for desperate measures…Zim has enough resources to finance it’s trouble but there is no transparency, corruption has been the order of many many years and it goes unpunished. the ruling party is more concerned about it’s political survival rather than economic affairs. they thought Biti was crazy when he was saying there is no money and they used that position to politically attack him. Maiti kurima inyore. muchiti magejo munawo—hezvoko!
Asking for money but ZBC boss and others are getting $40,000 per month! What a sad joke.Why do hard working tax payers put up with this rape and plunder?
@Thandi
Those living in exile love their country and have good cause to be critical. I would like to return and contribute to the rebuilding the nation of my birth, but I am perceived as white and a farmer who stole the land he ploughed. Nothing could be further from the truth, I bought my farm after independence and with the ZPF govt blessing and I created employment, forex generation and food for the local consumption.
That is why Zimbabwe is where it is today, it banished the most vital component of its economy and destroyed everyone’s lively hood in the process and all for votes. Until the Government can realise they have wronged and deceived the populous and put this right by firstly reinstating all Zimbabweans irrespective their full rights which would include returning the farms to their rightful owners nothing will improve.
Get the farmers back and seek assistance from the UN and other donor nations for them and the NATION will see the benefits in as little as 18 months. Lets also go back to the 1980 speeches and honour those and reaffirm the worlds faith in our once great nation.