Zuma to meet Tsvangirai over unity government

Monday, August 3, 2009

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma will later today meet with the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai to discuss that country's unity government.

The meeting is expected to deal with sticky issues of the unity government such as the appointments of the Reserve Bank governor and attorney-general as well as the economy and other socioeconomic issues affecting Zimbabweans.

Seven months since the formation of the unity government, very little progress has been made to move Zimbabwe out of its economic crisis.

There has been tensions in that country's unity government, with Finance Minister Tendai Biti receiving death threats.

Violence and harassment of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) members continue despite the party joining the unity government in February this year.

The MDC says despite negotiations to form a unity government, all state power still remains with Zanu-PF.

Mr Tsvangirai arrived in South Africa last week to shore up political and economic support for his country.

Since the formation of the inclusive government, Mr Tsvangirai has been all over the world urging the international community to assist in the rebuilding of Zimbabwe.

In June, Mr Tsvangirai travelled to Britain and the United States where he secured e5 million in aid from the British government and $73 million from the US government.

At a gala dinner in Sandton, on Friday night, he told delegates that Zimbabwe was open for business, urging South African companies to invest in that country and assist in upgrading its infrastructure.

Meanwhile, last week, the Director General of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation Ayanda Ntsaluba said President Zuma as Chair of SADC "is also concerned about making sure that these issues are addressed speedily before they derail the process."

He confirmed that South Africa has transferred the R200 million of the R300 million loan that was promised to the Zimbabwean government which will be used to rebuild humanitarian services.