PM Tsvangirai urges west to lift sanctions on Zim

9 Mar 2009

HARARE: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has urged the West to lift sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe to help the country rebuild its economy. In his inaugural address to Parliament Wednesday, 4 March, he said complete removal of the sanctions would help create a conducive environment for the new all-inclusive government to address challenges facing the country.

He said future relationships between Zimbabwe and western countries should also be based on respect for the country's sovereignty and not solely on humanitarian needs.

"We are grateful for the support that this new government has received already from the international community but we recognise that the onus is upon us as citizens of this nation to lay the foundation for greater international support, co-operation and integration.

"I therefore urge the international community to recognise our efforts and to note the progress that we make in this regard and to match our progress by moving towards the removal of restrictive measures."

Zanu-PF parliamentarians cheered as it was the first time that the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader had publicly made reference to the lifting of sanctions which the West slapped on Zimbabwe in 2001 after it embarked on a land reform programme meant to redress colonial land imbalances.

Tsvangirai, however, said the new government should work together and abide by international treaties and conventions it was part to. The new government had to date discharged its duties professionally, and he called for teamwork to ensure success of the transitional government.

"In the short life of our new transitional inclusive government I have been encouraged by the enormous support and co-operation I have received and witnessed at the parliamentary, ministerial, executive and civil service levels," he said.

Zimbabwe's political parties - Zanu PF, MDC and a splinter MDC faction - last year agreed to form an all-inclusive government to help the country address its socio-economic challenges after no party managed to win an absolute majority in Parliament.

The new government was set up last month with the swearing in of the prime minister and his two deputies as well as appointment of ministers and deputy ministers from the three political parties represented in Parliament.

Tsvangirai also told Parliament that the government would soon establish a national economic council to spearhead recovery of the economy. The council would be formed as part of initiatives to get the sanctions-battered economy back on track.

"As part of this process, the government will establish a National Economic Council comprising representatives of all economic sectors and civic society in Zimbabwe.

"Only through engaging with all stakeholders, by taking advice, learning about the issues and understanding the complexity of the challenges we face can we hope to formulate policies that will truly address our economic woes," he said.

He said recovery of the agriculture and mining sectors was at the heart of the nation's economic rejuvenation. The government would not reverse the land reform programme, but would institute a comprehensive land audit to eliminate multiple farm ownership.

The government would also ensure security of tenure to all land holders while all Zimbabweans eligible for land allocations would also benefit.

"This process will go a long way to healing our agricultural sector which in turn will be restored to its vital role in the economy and future of our great nation," he said, adding the current disruptions in farms would cost the country an estimated 150 million USD in lost crops.

The new government would strive to improve basic services such as health, education and availability and affordability of basic goods and services, he said, adding that the civil service would also be adequately remunerated.

As part of the rebuilding process, efforts would be make to attract back millions of Zimbabweans abroad.

Zimbabwe's economy has been going through difficulties worsened by economic sanctions over the last 10 years. The challenges have not only resulted in negative economic growth but have seen a sharp drop in capacity utilisation in all sectors of the economy.

Meanwhile, Tsvangirai said the nation could only move forward if there was national healing. "This process is not about retribution, instead it is about regeneration, restoration and rehabilitation and it must have both the grassroots and leadership buy-in and support," he said.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews