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Wallace Ruzvidzo Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s bilateral creditors have expressed confidence in the country’s arrears clearance and debt resolution platform, as the Second Republic continues to make concerted strides in servicing its debt obligations.
The country this week concluded a fourth structured dialogue platform meeting on debt clearance with creditors and development partners.
President Mnangagwa appointed African Development Bank (AfDB) president Dr Akinwumi Adesina to be the country’s debt champion while former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano is the high-level facilitator.
The debt owed to bilateral creditors is estimated at US$5,75 billion and that to multilateral creditors is around US$2,5 billion.
In an interview, France’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Laurent Chevallier said as one of the bilateral creditors, France was confident of the process’ success. He commended the Second Republic for instituting a high-level, inclusive and constructive approach to resolving its arrears.
“France is very supportive of the dialogue platform initiated by the authorities and we have been very committed to the discussions and we will remain fully committed with an open and constructive approach.
“We really commend the leadership of the authorities of Zimbabwe which have been key at the highest level and to the progress made in the last five months,” he said.
“We are fully committed to the process and we want that process to be successful and we will remain committed in order for that process to be successful.
“We find its inclusiveness very positive with all the stakeholders and also its comprehensive approach with economic governance and land issues,” he said.
“As was said in the meeting we are entering the implementation and dialogue will continue on the implementation of the reforms which have been identified by the Government of Zimbabwe as they key reforms for the process.”
The United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Melanie Robinson told The Herald that the meeting convened this week had culminated in positive outcomes, while emphasising the UK’s commitment to Zimbabwe.
“We welcome this establishment by the Government of Zimbabwe together with former Mozambique President Chissano and AfDB president Dr Adesina for dialogue on arrears and debt relief. The UK is committed to engaging in this opportunity for constructive, open and inclusive dialogue.
“I should say it was really good to hear President Mnangagwa committing to implementing the reforms on the economy, good governance and on land,” she said.
Ambassador Robinson said Zimbabwe’s decision to use internationally renowned indicators of reforms was a step in the right direction.
She said free and fair elections would only buttress the arrears clearance and debt resolution process’ success.
“We welcome the agreement to use internationally recognised indicators to measure the performance against the implementation of those reforms because ultimately its after the implementation of the reforms that Zimbabwe can achieve arrears clearance and debt relief.
“We know that peaceful, credible and inclusive elections will be a really important key early indicator of progress in this process,” she said
In a separate interview, the European Union’s (EU) Ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann said the bloc commended Government’s commitment and show of seriousness.
“First of all, I think the combination of a high-level dialogue underpinned by working groups is a very good approach. I also applaud the approach on the good governance side.
“The Government has put forward their own National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the indicators there are internationally recognised indicators. I think social participators in the high-level meeting could see that had a very positive resonance on the stakeholders and creditors who all applauded this approach,” he said.
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