HARARE – Zimbabwe’s coalition government must uphold the rule of law to attract investors key to any effort to rebuild the country’s shattered economy, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Monday.

Tsvangirai formed a power-sharing government with President Robert Mugabe last February but the former opposition leader’s calls for an end to farm invasions and restoration of the rule of law in the country’s mainstay agricultural sector have been ignored by militant supporters of Mugabe’s ZANU (PF) party.

In a speech to a private sector investment conference in Harare, Tsvangirai said ensuring the rule of law was key to restoring investors’ confidence in Zimbabwe, adding that he would keep pushing to create an environment conducive to business in the country.

“The foundation for any investment is a commitment by government to ensuring that the rule of law is applied and adhered to without fear or favour,” said Tsvangirai, in a speech read on his behalf by top aide, Gorden Moyo.

He added: “The rule of law is the catalyst that provides the foundation of confidence for contractual dealings and investor activity without which no economy can run effectively. Only through adherence to the rule of law can we remove the uncertainty of doing business in Zimbabwe and restore investors’ confidence.”

Once a model African economy Zimbabwe suffered a severe economic and humanitarian crisis since 2000 that critics blame on long time ruler Mugabe’s controversial policies.

Analysts say a unity government formed last February by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and another former opposition leader Arthur Mutambara will struggle to revive Zimbabwe’s economy without substantial financial support from rich Western nations. 

Western nations are withholding demanding more political reforms and end to farm invasion before they can provide direct financial support to Harare.

By Zimonline