Zimbabwe’s worsening human rights record could be setting it on another warpath with the international community, frustrating earlier attempts to mend relations.
In this vein the United Kingdom has ruled out a $1,1 billion bailout for President Robert Mugabe’s government and instead warned recent incidents of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe could torpedo Harare’s re-engagement efforts with the international community.
Harare is presently grappling to secure outside funding to prop up an economy weighed down by decades of mismanagement.
The situation has been compounded by massive de-industrialisation which has seen the national cake shrink as desperate citizens resort to informal ways of survival.
As the situation gets dicey by the day, President Mugabe has turned to old allies in the UK for a financial bailout which saw finance minister Patrick Chinamasa fly to London last month while trying to negotiate lines of credit.
Zimbabwe’s colonial master has come under fire for allegedly ignoring gross rights violations and corruption under the Mugabe regime while granting audience to Harare which is seeking to unlock a 1, 1 billion pounds bailout.
Reports have been awash that former British business minister Peter Mendelsohn met Chinamasa in Harare five months ago before the investment bank where the Labour works sought to help the regime borrow $1,1 billion.
But Catriona Laing, the British ambassador to Zimbabwe who allegedly organised the controversial meeting has dismissed the reports of a clandestine bailout plan for beleaguered Mugabe regime saying more misunderstandings were circulating regarding the UK’S approach to Zimbabwe.
“There is no bail out,” Laing tweeted on Sunday, “Like all EU (European Union) (member states) we support international re-engagement if (there is) progress on human rights, rule of law.”
Instead, Laing said, recent human rights violations threatened the re-engagement efforts.
In recent weeks, Zimbabweans have taken to the streets in protest against general misrule and a harsh economic climate.
Police have been accused of brutalising peaceful demonstrators.
Last week, five journalists were battered by police in images which were captured on video.
Human rights defenders say more than 300 people have been arrested since Zimbabweans began their street protests some two months ago.
The British envoy also denied her country was funding a certain faction within Mugabe’s faction-riddled Zanu PF as was being alleged by the country’s opposition.
“We don’t keep any party in business and aren’t responsible how they behave. There is no bail out or UK money for government,” she said.
She was however quick to say the UK was disturbed by deterioration in human rights abuses, hinting it could scupper Harare’s re-engagement efforts with the international community, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Recently we see deterioration (in human rights). (It) will make it harder to get re-engagement international financial institutions.”
Political analyst, Ricky Mukonza, said it is politically damaging for the UK to be seen to be bailing out the Zimbabwe government.
“The Zimbabwe government is the same government which has been accused of gross human rights violations against its people and suffocating democracy. Bailing out this government will be tantamount to endorsing these internationally unacceptable practices.”
14 Replies to “UK Refuses Mugabe $1 Billion Bailout”
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You can never ever trust the Tory wimps who sold out millions decent blacks and whites in 1977 with their Whitehall gullibility naivety cowardice. Perfidious Albion . At least the effeminate sexually ambivalent mummy’s boy Cameron has slinked off to drink Pimm’s with his bumchum crony sleaziest. Worst p.m. since Churchill. The UK embassy in ha ha ha ha ha rare are truly out of their depth also. UK has too many boys, too few men !!!!
This evil piece of filth has destroyed more lives black and white, the sooner he dies the better, but i fear he will be followed by another piece of crap.Any Weston government or bank that even contemplates funding this evil degenerate should be jailed for corruption.
But you know he is Shona, dont you? Why are you surprised?
Free and fair elections among the Shona only?
Free and fair elections among the Shona only?
Never ever give this fcukken Shona Gukurahundi regime money. Let them first learn how to make moneycans stop beghing. When you sweat for the money, you will no how to keep it; how to care fir it. Infact they should go back to Burundi. That is Khoisan land. To hell with Shona settlers in Southern Africa.
Never ever give this fcukken Shona Gukurahundi regime money. Let them first learn how to make moneycans stop beghing. When you sweat for the money, you will no how to keep it; how to care fir it. Infact they should go back to Burundi. That is Khoisan land. To hell with Shona settlers in Southern Africa.
The situation in Zimbabwe is will only get better after the country has had meaningful political reforms leading to free and fair elections!
The situation in Zimbabwe is will only get better after the country has had meaningful political reforms leading to free and fair elections!
He once said keep your England and l will keep my Zimbabwe. l do not understand why searching for financial bail out. Bailout will obviously be misused for personal use.
He once said keep your England and l will keep my Zimbabwe. l do not understand why searching for financial bail out. Bailout will obviously be misused for personal use.
Thats gud for mbavha dze Zanu Pf lets put pressure kuti vabve
Can’t believe this story looking for a bail out from the uk , never would any government in this world help this crazy man and his cronies . A Zim government who is corrupt to the core , and treats its citizens like dirt. And I was to believe Mr Mugabe hated the uk , looks like he has really lost the plot . Yes I am sure not only would the uk and many other countries in the world would come to the rescue . This will never happen until the dictator either steps down from office , or dies . He makes sure his military the police are paid well eventually they get paid , but ask yourself why , why is he is frightened off his own people .. He needs the protection from them as he is one frightened man , and so he should be . It’s time for a change in Zimbabwe when that time comes all Zimbabweans will endure a better way off life which is not to much to ask for . Its a human right to be treated like human being
And it’s up,to the people to make it happen only the people off Zimbabwe can do that . .
Can’t believe this story looking for a bail out from the uk , never would any government in this world help this crazy man and his cronies . A Zim government who is corrupt to the core , and treats its citizens like dirt. And I was to believe Mr Mugabe hated the uk , looks like he has really lost the plot . Yes I am sure not only would the uk and many other countries in the world would come to the rescue . This will never happen until the dictator either steps down from office , or dies . He makes sure his military the police are paid well eventually they get paid , but ask yourself why , why is he is frightened off his own people .. He needs the protection from them as he is one frightened man , and so he should be . It’s time for a change in Zimbabwe when that time comes all Zimbabweans will endure a better way off life which is not to much to ask for . Its a human right to be treated like human being
And it’s up,to the people to make it happen only the people off Zimbabwe can do that . .