David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Friday 01 May, 2009

Shaking Hands with the Zimbabwean Government

Yesterday I met Tendai Biti, Secretary General of the MDC and Minister of Finance in the new transitional government. His economic responsibilities are massive - but the use of Dollars and Rand as hard currency has brought inflation down from crushing levels and brought food and goods back into the shops.

His economic plan is a good basis for progress. But politics hold the key - whether Prime Minister Tsvangirai and his colleagues are able to exercise the power for which the Zimbabwean people voted, and which the agreement to a transitional government provides. That is the basis for the re-engagement of the international community on which Zimbabwe depends.

 

Zimbabwe Finance Minister

Posted at 17:26 01 May 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[7]

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Ironic that we should be hearing advice from Zimbabwe on economic recover, a sign of how bad things actually are?

Posted by Curly on May 02, 2009 at 10:41 AM BST #

I am afraid of another party winning a landslide majority, and winning at least a second term, if the current PM survives in office much longer. I fear the restoration of some extremely reactionary social policies, like hanging, if one party wins too large a majority in the next election. You can still minimise the scale of the next general election result, and thus moderate the subsequent policies, by choosing a new leader now. The current PM is viewed by his opponents as their best asset. Why allow them such an advantage?

Posted by Anonymous on May 03, 2009 at 02:50 PM BST #

Dear David, in my opinion it is very important that you have met the Zimbabwean Minister of Finance,Mr. Tendai Biti, of the new transitional government. If his economic plan is a "good basis for progress" it is also a progress for a democratic development in this country. And if you were the first British Foreign Secretary since April 2000 at all who met a Zimbabwean Minister on 29.04.09 it `s at least a sign of hope and good will. In fact, we only can watch whether PM Tsvangirai and his Ministers are able to exercise the power for which they were voted by the Zimbabwean people. That's why I do full agree with you that this is the real and only basis for the urgently needed re-engagement of the international community. Best wishes, Ingo-Steven Wais

Posted by Ingo-Steven Wais on May 04, 2009 at 12:54 PM BST #

Its one thing talking abt Zimbabwe but when Ghana becomes news due to civil and human rights abuses then Africa is condescending to an all time low. The spate of human right abuses has now reached alarming proportions. Thankfully, the British government has invited the President of Ghana to the UK this week. The President was aptly described by the Minority Leader in parliament, Hon Osei Mensa-Bonsu as presiding over a country in which “state-sponsored gangsterism, criminality, lawlessness and politically motivated ethnocentrism is on the rise” Ghana’s fledgling democracy is haemorrhaging and haemorrhaging very badly. A stitch in time will definitely save nine. We must cease the moment and the opportunity to save Ghana because Ghanaians deserve better

Posted by Paul Ahwireng on May 04, 2009 at 08:39 PM BST #

Having heard Sue Lloyd-Roberts's account on World Service Outlook this evening of her own meeting with Tendai Biti it's clear that the Mugabe clique's pernicious presence still dominates any attempt to establish a normal political culture in Zimbabwe. Why?

Posted by OwenE2 on May 08, 2009 at 10:23 PM BST #

Have to agree with some of the comments above..

Posted by Peppa Pig on May 09, 2009 at 04:55 AM BST #

thank you for saving some of the british old age pensioners in zimbabwe - it must be really hard for them starting again at such old age - but i am grateful something has been done for these people, many who have to much pride to ask for help & have spent a lifetime working for the brit/rhodesian/zimbabwean government - sadly even with the 'new power?' it will never again be the breadbasket it once was- to many people who built the country into the 'african sucess' have moved on. many will always feel 'displaced' but thank you mr Miliband for making this happen for these brit oldies!

Posted by concerned qld on June 05, 2009 at 04:02 AM BST #

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