Britain aids Zimbabwe with ¤15m

  1. Posted on Wednesday 29 April 2009 - 10:03
    Sam Banda Junior
    Image of Sam Banda Junior
    Sam Banda Junior, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi Photo: Shepherd Tozvireva
    Britain has pledged about 15 million pounds to "rival" Zimbabwe to revamp various ailing sectors. Media reports in Malawi quoted a statement from Britain's International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander saying the aid was very crucial for the improvement of Zimbabwe's health system.
    Many Zimbabweans struggle to get water daily. Photo by Shepherd Tozvireva
    The southern African country is in greater need of help to uplift its economy which has seen its inflation rise.

    “This critical humanitarian aid will mean increased support for the country’s health system, greater access to clean water and more support for struggling farmers in Zimbabwe,” the statement said.

    Recently the country’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who entered into a government of national unity with President Robert Mugabe after months of disagreements, said the country was in need of over $12 billion to maintain its economy.

    According to the statement, the aid will also address a number of urgent priorities identified by the unity government. The British representative was also quoted as saying that the aid will help to look into the welfare of the people in the country.

    The aid according to Malawi's local daily - Daily Times - will not pass through government of Zimbabwe systems or through to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

    Prices of food and other items skyrocketed in the country forcing many Zimbabweans to leave for neighbouring countries in search of greener pastures. Apart from experiencing economic problems, Zimbabwe was recently hit by a cholera outbreak which so far is said to have killed over 3,000 people.

    Tsvangirai and Mugabe have since called for togetherness among its two parties and work together for the development of Zimbabwe.

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