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Zimbabwe’s PM Tsvangirai Hits Another Brickwall In U.S., Sitting With Obama
14 June 2009
Harare — PRIME Minister Tsvangirai yesterday hit another brickwall in the United States when US President Barack Obama extended US$73 million "to the people in Zimbabwe" and not the Government. Obama's statement was read as an apparent reference to aid organisations dealing with humanitarian assistance. Said Obama: "I have committed US$73 million in assistance to Zimbabwe . . . (the aid) will not be going to the Government directly because we continue to be concerned about consolidating democracy, human rights and rule of law, but it will be going directly to the people in Zimbabwe." Obama spoke as business leaders yesterday told Prime Minister Tsvangirai that they would not invest in Zimbabwe unless there were "political and economic reforms". The Corporate Council on Africa, an organisation of 180 United States companies dedicated to strengthening commercial relations between America and this continent, yesterday told PM Tsvangirai they wanted to see more reforms. The CCA hosted a lunch for the Prime Minister ahead of a meeting between him and President Obama. In a statement after the meeting, the body said: "CCA used the occasion to emphasise that before investing in Zimbabwe, most American companies will need to see a combination of political and economic reforms to create a sustainable investment climate in the southern African country." One hundred and twenty business and government leaders attended the meeting. PM Tsvangirai pleaded with the American business community to support the country's turnaround efforts, saying: "Zimbabwe cannot do it alone." He briefed the Americans on several steps that the inclusive Government had taken to address the current economic situation and to promote private investment. Formed in 1993, the CCA members -- who say they are non-partisan -- represent about 85 percent of total US private sector investments in Africa. PM Tsvangirai met President Obama to discuss the lifting of American sanctions on Zimbabwe and how the two countries could improve their ties, which hit an all-time low during the George W. Bush regime. The Obama administration extended the Bush era sanctions in March this year, while the US Senate early this week passed a resolution to maintain the embargo. On Thursday, PM Tsvangirai met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said Washington was looking for "appropriate" ways to assist the inclusive Government. PM Tsvangirai is also scheduled to visit France, Britain, Sweden and Belgium on a brief from President Mugabe and Cabinet to call for the lifting of sanctions.
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