EU team to meet Zim Govt officials

The European Union team, which arrived in the country yesterday, is expected to meet government officials from various ministries tomorrow to discuss areas the bloc could fund. The visit followed a decision by the bloc to partially lift the illegal sanctions it imposed on Zimbabwe. The bloc has,
however, retained travel bans against President Mugabe and senior Zanu-PF officials arguing it first wanted credible elections before a review could be made.
In an interview yesterday, Head of the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Aldo Dell'Ariccia, said the technical team was composed of people from diverse areas. 
"It is composed of EU components such as external services, trade, developmental cooperation and humanitarian aid. These colleagues have come here to interact with the government and other stakeholders," said Mr Dell'Ariccia.
The EU, he said, used to extend humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe in excess of US$130 million before relations between the two became frosty.
The diplomat said tomorrow's meeting would seek to explore priority areas for the country in which the Western bloc could fund.
"The technical team would meet government officials and prepare the priority areas and the EU would then study it," said Ambassador Dell' Ariccia.
Asked how much had been earmarked for Zimbabwe, Ambassador Dell'Ariccia said no amount had yet been allocated as that was the preserve of the EU parliament that would debate and adopt it.
"The coming discussion represents a major shift in approach, enabling the EU to develop assistance programmes in direct co-operation with the Government,' he said.
The technical team, he said, would not meet members of the re-engagement team led by MDC-T negotiator Mr Elton Mangoma.
"This is not a political team but a technical team, so they will not meet the re-engagement team," he said.
Since the establishment of the inclusive government, the EU and its member states have provided US$1 billion in development assistance with emphasis on supporting the provision of social services and food security, reinforcing democratic institutions, and fostering economic recovery.