By Farai D Hove| The United Kingdom has given President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration $12,6 million for reconstruction.

The Zimbabwe Reconstruction Fund (ZIMREF) yesterday received an additional £3 million ($4.2 million) from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) to further support the increased demand of the Trust Fund in strengthening the country’s systems of reconstruction and development. The funds are in addition to an initial DFID contribution of £6 million ($8.4 million) to the Trust Fund, DFID said in a statement.
Since its implementation in 2015, ZIMREF has recorded significant achievements that have contributed to the Fund’s objective that focuses on stabilization and reform (through legislative and administrative reforms); development and poverty alleviation, the presser said.
It continued stating that to date, with ZIMREF’s support seven pieces of legislation have been assented into Law to improve the ease of doing business and modernize public procurement.
“We are very pleased to be committing a further £3 million of UK support to ZIMREF. This will enable the World Bank to scale up technical advice to the Government of Zimbabwe as it takes forward its economic reform commitments to ensure economic recovery and a more prosperous future for all Zimbabweans,” said Ms. Annabel Gerry, Head of DFID Zimbabwe.
The additional funding will provide for increased support to the Government in revising the Investment Law, supporting the completion of the data entry of the Poverty Income Consumption Expenditure Survey (PICES), supporting analytical work on the Agriculture Expenditure Review and additional support to the climate; state owned enterprises; and education work.
“We are grateful for the sustained support from DFID as this enables the Trust Fund to complete some important work such as PICES which will be useful for tracking progress toward the elimination of extreme poverty and achievement of other social development goals contributing to policy formulation and implementation,” said Ms Mukami Kariuki, Zimbabwe World Bank Country Manager.
ZIMREF is a World Bank administered multi-donor trust fund that received financial contributions and commitments from the Denmark, European Union, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (DFID) and the World Bank’s State and Peace Building Fund. About DFID Zimbabwe: The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is working to support the poorest Zimbabweans as well as at the same time helping lay the foundations for a more prosperous, peaceful and democratic Zimbabwe, driving growth and poverty reduction. DFID’s key priorities in Zimbabwe are: – Strengthening peace, democracy, and good governance – Promoting economic reform and prosperity – Strengthening resilience and responding to crises – Supporting basic services for the poorest and most vulnerable To find out more about what DFID does in Zimbabwe visit https://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/countries/ZW