Netherlands keen to fund Zim Asset

Harare Bureau
THE Netherlands says that channelling development aid to Zimbabwe through non-governmental organisations is not sustainable and is keen to fund the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) if relations between the two countries normalise.

The country’s ambassador, Gera Sneller, said yesterday that Zimbabwe had so much to offer to the world and the Netherlands realised that handouts were not sustainable.

She was speaking after meeting Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo who told her that channelling aid through the civil society was equivalent to disapproving the government of the day.

“We’ve been providing aid for a long time, but the private sector now has to replace aid because working together through the private sector is the most sustainable way for development on both sides, not giving handouts,” said Sneller.

“We’re looking at what Zim Asset can do and how we can support the government. Zimbabwe is at an important stage where the most important thing is to work with the private sector.

“Zimbabwe has so much to offer and if it improves the business climate, funding will come through the private sector, foreign direct investment and trade.”

The Dutch government, in line with the common EU position to impose economic sanctions on Zimbabwe over its land reform programme that benefited hundreds of thousands of people, stopped giving direct assistance to Zimbabwe over a decade ago and chose NGOs as its conduits.

Sneller said Zimbabwe was strong in agriculture, tourism and financial services, while its citizens were welcoming and friendly.
Prof Moyo, together with his deputy Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, took Sneller to task over the illegal sanctions the EU imposed on Zimbabwe and a pirate radio station, Voice of the People, the Dutch are funding to beam into the country illegally.

Sneller said the embargo was never implemented in “a way that there could be no discussions on serious subjects and cooperation on the economic field and social areas.”

But Prof Moyo, according to sources who attended the meeting, openly told her that by keeping President Mugabe and his wife on the sanctions list, it meant that sanctions were affecting ordinary Zimbabweans.

“The Minister said it is really surprising that the EU decided to remove everybody from the sanctions list, leaving President Mugabe who heads the country,” said the source.

“He said it was better if they had removed President Mugabe who is the face of the country and left everybody else. The Ambassador was asked what the EU needed Zimbabwe to do for them to remove sanctions on the President and she had difficulties in answering that to the extent that she only said they would be able to assist if the new Constitution is properly implemented.”

The sources said Prof Moyo told Sneller that by funding the Voice of the People, it was clear the Netherlands was for illegal regime change.

“The Minister took an interesting approach, saying during the liberation struggle the Netherlands supported the liberation war effort and one thing they did was to establish a radio station in support of the struggle, but it does not happen now when Zimbabwe is in the course of enjoying its independence and realising economic freedom,” said the source.

The Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA), was also discussed in the meeting, with Prof Moyo saying the government upheld the laws and agreements.

Sneller commended Zimbabwe for holding free and peaceful elections last year.