HARARE – Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has appealed to Western donor countries to reward the good work of his unity government with President Robert Mugabe by widening support to include development assistance.

“People must recognise and reward progress,” Tsvangirai told journalists in Harare on Sunday evening.

He added: “There is no dispute in everyone’s assessment that there is indeed progress being made in Zimbabwe, and how do you reward that progress, by moving away from just humanitarian aid but to economic growth, development aid and to ensure that any restriction that is there is removed.”

Western countries that provide the most aid to Zimbabwe have maintained humanitarian assistance but refuse to provide direct financial support to the unity government, demanding more democratic reforms including freeing the media and upholding human rights.

The United States, European Union, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia have also refused to remove visa and financial sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his top allies as punishment for stealing elections, failure to uphold the rule of law and human rights.

Tsvangirai said he could not defend history, apparently refusing to defend Mugabe’s controversial human rights record and undemocratic rule of previous years that led to the West imposing sanctions.

But the former opposition leader – who agreed to join Mugabe in a power-sharing government last February to try to end Zimbabwe’s multi-faceted crisis – said the coalition government was a new beginning for Zimbabwe deserving of support from the West and the rest of the international community. 

“I know that a lot of people are sceptical because of the history . . . I am not going to defend what has happened. What is important is that we have opened a new chapter which we have agreed upon in Zimbabwe,” Tsvangirai said.

The unity government that analysts say is the most viable opportunity in a decade to lift Zimbabwe out of economic meltdown and political crisis has recorded some impressive gains especially on the economic front where hyperinflation has been tamed and basic commodities are once again available in shops.

But the administration – that says it requires US$10 billion to get Zimbabwe functioning again – could ultimately fail to restore the country’s once vibrant economy because of a shortage of funding and other resources.

Meanwhile Tsvangirai, who last week received two international human rights and democracy awards from the International Bar Association and the Spanish foundation, Cristóbal Gabarrón, said the accolades were a recognition of Zimbabweans’ fight for a just and democratic society.

He said: “It is a recognition of the struggle of the people of Zimbabwe . . . the people to be congratulated are the people of Zimbabwe for being resilient, for continually fighting for democratic ideals without resorting to violence in spite of the setbacks, frustration and in spite of the violence against them.”

Tsvangirai, who has insisted that joining Mugabe in government does not mean abdication of his 10-year struggle to end the Zimbabwean leader’s authoritarian rule, was also in the running for the Nobel Peace prize eventually won by US President Barack Obama last week.

By Zimonline