Britain to give Zimbabwe $8 million support

LONDON, Monday

Britain pledged 5 million pounds ($8.24 million) to Zimbabwe today but made clear more reforms were needed before it would start large-scale development aid to the shattered country.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told visiting Zimbabwean counterpart Morgan Tsvangirai there were “great signs of progress” in Zimbabwe, but the power-sharing government still had to meet a number of tests on the road to democracy.

Mr Brown announced 4 million pounds of food aid and 1 million pounds for school textbooks, bringing total British “transitional support” for the Zimbabwean Government this year to 60 million pounds.

He held out the prospect of more aid if the government, in which Mr Tsvangirai uneasily shares power with President Robert Mugabe, pressed ahead with economic and political reforms.

The first meeting

“We are prepared to go further in offering more transitional support if the reform programme on the ground gains momentum,” Mr Brown said, standing by Mr Tsvangirai’s side after the first meeting of British and Zimbabwean leaders at 10 Downing Street in more than 10 years.

Zimbabwe says it needs $10 billion to rebuild the economy after a decade of hyperinflation and shortages of basic goods.
The extra British money will be channelled through the World Food Programme and charities.

Like other Western donor countries, Britain remains suspicious of President Mugabe and is not yet ready to give direct budget aid to the government. (Reuters)