- Title: ZIMBABWE: Mugabe endorses recovery plan and calls for lifting of sanctions
- Date: 20th March 2009
- Summary: HARARE, ZIMBABWE (MARCH 19, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF AUDITORIUM
- Embargoed: 4th April 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Zimbabwe
- Country: Zimbabwe
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAPB3TZ4330EJOSPHZCZQFP6U9
- Story Text: Zimbabwe on Thursday (March 19) unveiled a package of measures designed to help the shattered country recover from years of hyperinflation and decline which began when President Robert Mugabe started seizing white-owned farms.
Mugabe was on-hand as the recently-installed unity unity government released an economic policy document which said that political reforms demanded by Western donors were a crucial part of an emergency recovery plan to ease hyper-inflation and widespread shortages of food and fuel.
Zimbabwe is talking to the United States and European Union over the repeal of sanctions, according the document, the first sign the new government may be gaining the confidence of Western powers.
Speaking at the event, the country's Finance Minister, Tendai Biti made clear that while the unity government was addressing long-term economic recovery issues, the short-term focus was just as important.
"The first, critical issue that we deal with is the issue of provision of food and humanitarian assistance whose figures currently stand at 5 million Zimbabweans," he said.
President Robert Mugabe called for international help for the plan and reiterated a call for sanctions to be lifted at the launch of the government's Short-term Emergency Recovery Programme.
"STERP (Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme) is a programme that prioritises and focuses on the restoration of economic growth and stability of our country Zimbabwe. A product of extensive consultations with various stakeholders including business and labour, it should easily find full support from all who have Zimbabwe's development and its economic recovery at heart."
The document released on Thursday forecast that inflation would fall to 10 percent by the end of 2009 -- from over 230 million at last count -- due to the use of multiple foreign currencies to replace the almost worthless Zimbabwe dollar.
The government of Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai faces the difficult task of rebuilding Zimbabwe's shattered economy after years of hyperinflation and decline.
While Western powers would prefer that Mugabe step down, they have indicated they can help the country recover as long as a democratic government is in place.
Mugabe normally has no kind words for the West, this time however he made an appeal to them.
"To the European Union and the United States, I appeal for the removal of sanctions, your sanctions which are inhumane, cruel and unwarranted, they have done us harm. SADC and African Union have in support of our inclusive government's economic stabilization and recovery efforts already strongly called for the removal of these sanctions, please heed their call. We thus repeat our loud call for their immediate removal, once again we say remove your sanctions," he said.
Western donors and foreign investors crucial to rebuilding Zimbabwe want political and economic reforms, such as reversing nationalisation plans, before they will pour in cash. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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