• Home
• | Terms & conditions
• | Contact us
• | RSS

Zim needs quick recovery: Zuma

31 August 2009

Quick work is needed in order for Zimbabwe to stage a successful recovery, South African President Jacob Zuma said at the opening of the Harare Agricultural Society Show in Zimbabwe on Friday.

"The challenge we face is to ensure that Zimbabwe's recovery is completed in the shortest space of time," Zuma said in a speech prepared for delivery, issued by the Pesidency.

Positive developments

Zuma said he had seen "positive developments" in Zimbabwe since the January 2009 SADC Extraordinary Summit.

"The Inclusive Government is functioning and the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee is also progressing well."

He said the recent consensus by the government to work towards national healing and reconciliation was also encouraging.

"We went through it in South Africa. It is a long, arduous but very necessary process for nation-building and social cohesion."

Another positive sign was that the constitution process was progressing well, extensive participation by civil society.

Zuma added that Zimbabwe's the economic situation was improving. "Your creative multi-currency system has eliminated hyperinflation and brought consumer goods back into shops."

The government's short-term emergency recovery programme had "all the hallmarks of success", he said.

Removing sanctions

Now, Zimbabwe's global political agreement, signed in September and aimed at resolving long-running political tensions in the country, needed to move with the "necessary speed and progress", he said.

Zuma said an effective recovery was also dependent on the removal of sanctions. "We appeal to the international community to remove any remaining hindrances to Zimbabwe's recovery, including sanctions."

At the same time, Zuma said, Zimbabwe's political parties should work together to remove any obstacles delaying the implementation of the agreement. "The parties are in agreement on the need to speed up implementation and to find solutions to the current points of disagreement."

Turning to his task of opening the 99th agricultural show, Zuma said agriculture was a mainstay of the country's economy.

"If we speak of, and work towards the economic recovery of Zimbabwe, agriculture is one of the key sectors we must look at very seriously."

He said that, in the medium to long term, the country needed to guarantee its food security and self-reliance.

Zuma said South Africa and Zimbabwe had strong historical bonds, especially with regards to the support given during the anti-apartheid struggle.

"We should continue to work together towards finding a lasting solution to the challenges faced by this nation, assisted by the region and the continent," he said.

Zuma's visit to Zimbabwe took place ahead of the SADC summit due to take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 7 and 8 September.

A review of the progress made in implementing Zimbabwe's global political agreement is expected to take place at this meeting.

Sapa