American President Barack Obama has announced that the United States will provide $73 million in aid to Zimbabwe. Speaking at the White House after meeting Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, he said he wanted to encourage the rule of law, human rights, basic health and education in Zimbabwe.
“I obviously have extraordinary admiration for the courage and tenacity that the Prime Minister (Tsvangirai) has shown in navigating through some very difficult political times in Zimbabwe,” said Obama.
“There was a time when Zimbabwe was the breadbasket of Africa, and continues to have enormous potential. It has gone through a very dark and difficult time politically.”
He also added that, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe
“has not acted often times in the best interest of the Zimbabwean people and has been resistant to the democratic changes that need to take place.” “We now have a power-sharing that has promise, and we want to do everything we can to encourage the kind of improvement not only on human rights and rule of law, freedom of the press and democracy that is so necessary, but also on the economic front.”
Meanwhile Prime Minister Tsvangirai said he is grateful of the generosity. In an interview with CNN he said,
“whether it is humanitarian aid or transitional support, it adds up to the relief that Zimbabwe is seeking.”
The US aid will not be going to the government directly but “direct to the people in Zimbabwe,” said Obama.
I think the Unity Government has done well in the few months they have been sharing power in Zimbabwe. They have done enough so far to attract aid from some Western countries. There is still a lot of work that need to be done in terms of re branding Zimbabwe and making it attractive again to international investors and the international community. But so far they seem to be in the right direction.
It’s up to to the two parties, MDC and Zanu Pf to make sure the Unity Government works, and also to ensure there is peace and stability in the country.
Feel free to add your views on this and other issues affecting the people of Zimbabwe.
Related posts: