News / National
Sweden's $60 million Zimbabwe elections offer receives mixed reactions
22 Jul 2011 at 04:17hrs | Views
Sweden's $60 million offer for Zimbabwe's general elections has been received with mixed feelings. Media reports said Sweden wants to channel the funds through its development agency, Swedish Development Co-operation Agency and the human rights groups and Civic groups.
Some political analysts mainly with links to Zanu-PF have questioned the Scandinavian country's interests particularly in view of its refusal to support the lifting of the illegal economic embargo.
They said the money could be part of the regime change agenda by the West.
The analysts said the distribution of the money through non-governmental organisations means it has "strings attached".
Zimbabwe's three political parties in the inclusive Government viewed the offer differently.
Zanu-PF expressed reservations while the MDC-T welcomed the pledge. The MDC formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube, however, called for transparency in its distribution.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo yesterday said most NGOs in Zimbabwe were participating in the regime change agenda.
He said Zanu-PF would reject the money.3
Gumbo said individuals and other states that want to work with Government should be impartial.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said his party welcomed any form of international help towards the "democratisation of the country".
The deputy spokesperson of the MDC Mr Kurauone Chihwayi said: "ZEC has said it is broke, so is our Government. There is nothing bad in receiving support from outside.
"What we don't want is a situation whereby, the process ends up being hijacked by certain individuals in the inclusive Government.
"We hope that there is nothing satanic with the pledge as our party is for help that comes in good faith."
Political analysts also viewed the offer differently.
Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said it was clear Sweden supported regime change in Zimbabwe. He said instead of committing funding to elections, Sweden should be calling for the lifting of the illegal sanctions.
"Sida is funded by the Swedish government that has imposed sanctions on us. It's ironic that such a country wants to fund reforms and elections in Zimbabwe.
"It is clear that the money is meant for vote buying by the MDC-T and if they want to help us, they must first do so by lifting the sanctions. To us, the embargo is the biggest rigger of elections," he said.
Another political analyst Mr Eldred Masunungure said the pledge should be compliant to the objectives of the inclusive Government.
Dr Ibbo Mandaza said there was nothing sinister with the pledge since the donor community has been supporting programmes like the constitution making process.
He, however, said the money should be distributed on a non-partisan basis.
Some political analysts mainly with links to Zanu-PF have questioned the Scandinavian country's interests particularly in view of its refusal to support the lifting of the illegal economic embargo.
They said the money could be part of the regime change agenda by the West.
The analysts said the distribution of the money through non-governmental organisations means it has "strings attached".
Zimbabwe's three political parties in the inclusive Government viewed the offer differently.
Zanu-PF expressed reservations while the MDC-T welcomed the pledge. The MDC formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube, however, called for transparency in its distribution.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo yesterday said most NGOs in Zimbabwe were participating in the regime change agenda.
He said Zanu-PF would reject the money.3
Gumbo said individuals and other states that want to work with Government should be impartial.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said his party welcomed any form of international help towards the "democratisation of the country".
The deputy spokesperson of the MDC Mr Kurauone Chihwayi said: "ZEC has said it is broke, so is our Government. There is nothing bad in receiving support from outside.
"What we don't want is a situation whereby, the process ends up being hijacked by certain individuals in the inclusive Government.
"We hope that there is nothing satanic with the pledge as our party is for help that comes in good faith."
Political analysts also viewed the offer differently.
Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said it was clear Sweden supported regime change in Zimbabwe. He said instead of committing funding to elections, Sweden should be calling for the lifting of the illegal sanctions.
"Sida is funded by the Swedish government that has imposed sanctions on us. It's ironic that such a country wants to fund reforms and elections in Zimbabwe.
"It is clear that the money is meant for vote buying by the MDC-T and if they want to help us, they must first do so by lifting the sanctions. To us, the embargo is the biggest rigger of elections," he said.
Another political analyst Mr Eldred Masunungure said the pledge should be compliant to the objectives of the inclusive Government.
Dr Ibbo Mandaza said there was nothing sinister with the pledge since the donor community has been supporting programmes like the constitution making process.
He, however, said the money should be distributed on a non-partisan basis.
Source - Byo24News
