Published by the government of Zimbabwe
1 July 2009
Harare — PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday briefed President Mugabe about his tour to the United States and Europe, where he had been tasked to call for the lifting of sanctions and seek financial aid.
Speaking to journalists at his Munhumutapa Office yesterday, PM Tsvangirai said he had apprised the President of his trip and the reservations Western countries had in committing financial aid to Zimbabwe.
The PM was tasked by President Mugabe and Cabinet to ask the US and the European Union to lift economic sanctions and ask for financial aid.
He said he had also discussed with the President the boycott by ministers from his party of Monday's Cabinet meeting.
"There is no pulling-out of the inclusive Government. I met President Mugabe yesterday and we discussed these issues and the need to fulfil the Global Political Agreement we signed," said the Prime Minister.
"Hapana munhu ari (No person is) tied up, there is always room for divorce. At this moment, there is no thinking to pull out of the inclusive Government.
"As a principal of the inclusive Government, I have taken it upon myself to engage my two partners, President Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister (Arthur) Mutambara, to address these issues and bring finality to the formation of the inclusive Government.
"This engagement includes the referral to Sadc of some of the outstanding issues."
The PM said he understood the decision by MDC-T ministers to boycott Cabinet, saying this reflected frustration at the pace of implementation of the GPA.
"I understand their frustrations and concerns. It is the same frustrations expressed by Zimbabweans in general and the international community that we wish to re-engage with as a nation. These frustrations emanate from the slow pace of the implementation of the GPA."
MDC-T ministers boycotted the Cabinet meeting on Monday, drawing condemnation from other parties saying that the action undermined the spirit of inclusivity.
The PM said all the Western leaders he met with raised concern at the slow pace in implementing the GPA, adding that this might affect the removal of "restrictive measures", a euphemistic term he has been using in reference to the sanctions.
"It must be understood by all today, that any individual, or group of individuals, who are standing in the way of progress in the implementation of the GPA, are also standing in the way of Zimbabwe's rebirth and re-engagement with the family of nations at a political and economic level, including the removal of any restrictive measures," he said.
However, oustanding issues are being resolved with the appointment of permanent secretaries agreed on while vacant ambassadors' posts will be filled by appointees nominated by the two MDC formations after they have undergone training.
The party principals have also agreed on sharing provincial governorships.
President Mugabe has said the appointments of Reserve Bank Governor Dr Gideon Gono and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana are irreversible because they were done according to the law.
Sanctions, which MDC-T has failed to have lifted, are an outstanding issue.
Asked why the money he managed to raise during the tour would be channelled through non governmental organisations instead of the inclusive Government, the PM claimed the public finance management system was not credible and needed a revamp.
He said as Government, they would meet to determine key areas that needed funding and the money would be distributed through the Multi Donor Trust as had already been adopted by the Government.
The PM described his trip as a success as many countries he visited showed readiness to support the inclusive Government, provided that the GPA was fully implemented.
"The visit was an overwhelming success. Every one of the countries I visited expressed their unequivocal support for the direction our country is taking, for our democratisation agenda and for the people of Zimbabwe," he said.
He received pledges totalling US$500 million for both humanitarian and transitional assistance.
PM Tsvangirai said while he was away, China also pledged US$950 million through Finance Minister Tendai Biti.
The Prime Minister defended the decision by his office to publish a newsletter, saying that was in tandem with modern technology.
"What's wrong with that? I have a website, these are communication tools. Who is complaining? If there are any complaints, they will be raised in Cabinet and I will respond," he said.
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As long as the thieving hands and opaque policies of the RBZ remain not a cent ought to be channelled through it, its that simple. Secondly, the conditions tied to the money are natural, if my brother comes to me asking for money i would want to know when i will get it back, what he needs it for, how much he needs etc what more a government. If my brother has the propensity to use the money for drink after which he beats up his wife and kids then i will never give him money for drink unless maybe… [Read Full Text]
So even the money from the Chinses is going to be funneled through Biti!
Cuts to the heart of the matter when the PM says,
"It must be understood by all today, that any individual, or group of individuals, who are standing in the way of progress in the implementation of the GPA, are also standing in the way of Zimbabwe's rebirth and re-engagement with the family of nations at a political and economic level, including the removal of any restrictive measures,".
Basically, not even the Chinese trust their money when it goes through ZANU-PF hands. Translation: "Those who… [Read Full Text]