Posted by Britain pledged an extra five million pounds in aid to Zimbabwe Monday, hailing progress under a new unity government but urging more reform after landmark talks between leaders of the two countries.
Speaking after talks with premier Morgan Tsvangirai — the first such meeting with a Zimbabwean leader for over two decades — Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed more help “if the reform programme on the ground gains momentum.”
The extra 8.2 million dollars (5.9 million euros) brings to 60 million pounds the transitional aid to Harare this year, said Brown, whose government long opposed the regime of President Robert Mugabe in the former British colony.
Before the two men joined together in a power-sharing government, Mugabe had often sought to discredit Tsvangirai, his longtime rival, by labelling him a tool of British interests.
“We are prepared to respond when the Zimbabwean government takes action which is in conformity with the long-term ambition,” he said in a joint press conference with Tsvangirai in his Downing Street office.
“We want to see Zimbabwe prosper, we want to see the emergence of a free society and genuine democratic politics.”
London is Tsvangirai’s final stop on a tour of Europe and the United States to drum up support for the “new Zimbabwe,” after his agreement with Mugabe to set up a unity government four months ago.
Britain has sounded a cautious note, saying it will support the inclusive government despite its concerns about Mugabe but that it will not lift sanctions until Harare proves it is on a path to democracy.
“There are great signs of progress: a budget and economic plans are in place; schools are reopening; children are once again filling the classrooms,” said Brown.
“As a result of the progress, we will increase our support to help Zimbabwe move from mere survival towards a genuine recovery.
“We are prepared to go further, in offering more transitional support, if the reform programme on the ground gains momentum. I want to see the government taking further rapid steps forward.”
Tsvangirai has insisted on his overseas trip that Mugabe’s presence in power should not deter foreign governments from helping his country.
But in a sign of continuing caution, Brown said the extra British funds would be given via aid agencies, rather than to the Zimbabwean government directly.
Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe’s reform programme is “irreversible” — and defended his power-sharing deal with Mugabe.
“Although this is not a perfect arrangement, we realise that it is a workable arrangement,” he said, adding: “I want to assure you we are in an irreversible process towards consolidating the democratic values.
“I know that the world is anxious to see signs of progress, especially the fulfillment of the global political agreement.”
And he said: “It is unfortunate that those living in Britain, because they don’t see Mugabe disappearing and therefore conclude that nothing has changed.
“I want to assure you that that is not the case,” he added.
5 million quid cant even feed the chickens. morgan should have said at that point-gordon thanks for your offer but i gotta go.I hope i do not come across as an ungrateful slave but i think this time you have insulted me.I was counting on you to get a positive result but you have let me down.I have managed to get the asylum seekers off your back by declaring openly that zimbabwe is now free-imagine what that will do to your campaign during the next election? The pressure would have been on gordon since the media are already after him.But the good old slave serves his masters regardless. He was insulted but like someone working without papers, he just carried on smiling like he is not bothered yet inside he really wanted to punch gordon brown.You only have to look at the picture of the two of them to work out who was thinking what at the time..really funny. Mugabe is not a fool-he has done wonders by allowing morgan to go on his own begging for aid. He now looks like an empty wine bottle.
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Have the world leaders failed to give morgan the respect he deserves by refusing to remove sanctions? What does it say about African politics? African unstitutions have come up with a solution that is signed by the opposition , but the west still wont budge.Why do they not respect the fact that the mdc agreed to work with zanu pf and as such the decision should be respected. Why do they have to worry so much about development aid that will have to be paid back anyway? Is it morgan failed to get rid of mugabe and give land back to displaced white farmers? Why impose unrealistic targets so that you can hold on to your dosh? why not openly say -as long as mugabe is in power , we will notb release the dosh? why not say that you are hoping the old man will die soon? will that bring farms back to whites ? I am not sure.
People are starving and we are not at all interested in handouts.we are a capable nation .So if you want to keep your sanctions on-just say so and we will just move on while our children perish.But land will not be given back still….
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zvakachadzoka kari empty kanhava kaya. kachadzoka kazere mhepo zvakataurwa naTUKU.
Stalin, if the white boys are waiting for mudhara to die so they can re-invade our land, then the neighbouring countries must be prepared to watch Zim turn into a ball of fire. they will wish he were alive pashaya anotidzora.
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@Stalin-@Abel
I suspect the West does respect the agreement (GNU). The funds are the problem. In the past, all the funds remitted to the Fiscus were abused or misappropriated. Even more problematic, was the repayments. It just didn’t happen!!. Zimbabwe borrowed US$billions and didn’t pay it back. Some of it was used to support the DRC military intervention and the fast track land reform. Please don’t blame the West. Even the African Banks are reluctant to lend to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe must demonstrate that it will observe international norms before more funds are made available to it. Is that unreasonable?
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Richard Branson and George Soros are already making investments in Zimbabwe, how wonderful! I was in Zimbabwe last week and ooh yes what a beautiful, stress free country it is. I arrived at the airport armed with my newly acquired red passport. I paid $55 for my entry visa and thereafter hired a Toyota 4×4 from Europecar inside the airport. I drove into the city centre, stopped at Steers by the Holiday Inn where I ordered 500g of T-Bone steak and a glass of beer for $11 before proceeding to my house in Manyonga Rd, Glen Lorne. When I arrived at the house, the electric gate was working, I slid in, switched on my television and watched BBC news. The maid poured water in my bath tub with radox and scented bath oil. By the time I finished bathing, a meal had already been saved. The landline phone was working and I started calling relatives. For the entire week I was there, water and electricity was interrupted for at most 1 hr a day. I lived like a king. I went to Eastgate, watched a movie, ate at Nandoos and I would be lying to say I saw a street kid. Rather what I saw where brand new 4x4s driven by mostly women. Every latest car is there, you name it. Bon Marche, Spar, Ok, Miekles, Pelhams all are loaded with goods and people were buying and going about their business without minding about anyone. I went to visit my sich sister in Parirenyatwa, you will be surprised that I saw her sitting in a clean bed watching Comesa live! Things have really changed and I see a green light ahead. I am disappointed to be back here where I have no swimming pool, no maid and where I am regarded as second class. I have started making plans to go back home, and the maximum I will stay here is a year, but I will be going back in December to drop computers and other equipment for my consultancy office. Zimbabwe is the place to be. Only those people who own nothing back home and who have not bothered to improve themselves academically will refuse to go back. Garai muno noone will care about you coz you are just as good as dead!
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@Realist
All we want is to be left ALONE. never mind them giving us money but they must stop interfering in our country. They should let us sort out our problems as one squabbling family, we will one day find each other, but not if they continue to interfere. If you listen to Brown talking on TV you would think Zimbabwe is some colony of Britain.
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So Bill tell us, what happened when you woke up?
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Dear Bill.
I can’t understand why people pretend to be other than they are. I use a pseudonym because it is safe. To use one simply to post and pretend to be someone else is a cowards way.
The Post above is not me.!! Then again, If I lived in Epsom(or Close), I would pretend to be someone else. !!
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Ko karobert zvakaiti hakana basa with the blurring sanctions saka kanga kasingazive here kuti ndozvinoita sanction. Nharo dzekadhara aka vakomana, zvino kauraisa vanhu ,nyika neupfumi. Ten years dzokuuraya nyika . We are ten years before independence now, 1970. We need 39 years to be where we were and above all the african countries. Starting from now without Robert. The longer he stays the longer the road to recovery. We need 39 years. Believe me. AIYA.
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