News / National
EU softens stance on Zimbabwe
03 Oct 2015 at 17:08hrs | Views
The government has commended the European Union (EU) for its softening stance on Zimbabwe and commitment to mend damaged relations.
The comments came at the launch of a new government programme supported by the EU in close collaboration with the UNDP.
The EU provides 4.74 million euros for the programme while the UNDP will chip in with half a million.
The bloc has unveiled vehicles, money and equipment to be used by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement for the land audit, base mapping, surveillance of resettled farmers and conflict resolution.
The money from the EU is being managed by the UNDP.
Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora says this is a positive development, adding mending relations with the EU is commendable.
"We want to forget what happened in the past as they have actually destroyed our agricultural economy and they are now coming up to accept that the land reform programme was a necessity," said Dr Mombeshora.
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Philippe van Damme says the project launched has potential to return the country to be the bread basket of southern Africa once again.
According to UNDP resident representative Bishow Parajuli, Zimbabwe's land sector has a huge potential to contribute to the national gross domestic product.
The project being supported by the EU and the UNDP will also help sustain the establishment of the Zimbabwe Land Commission, which is a critical institution in land administration in the country.
The comments came at the launch of a new government programme supported by the EU in close collaboration with the UNDP.
The EU provides 4.74 million euros for the programme while the UNDP will chip in with half a million.
The bloc has unveiled vehicles, money and equipment to be used by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement for the land audit, base mapping, surveillance of resettled farmers and conflict resolution.
The money from the EU is being managed by the UNDP.
"We want to forget what happened in the past as they have actually destroyed our agricultural economy and they are now coming up to accept that the land reform programme was a necessity," said Dr Mombeshora.
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Philippe van Damme says the project launched has potential to return the country to be the bread basket of southern Africa once again.
According to UNDP resident representative Bishow Parajuli, Zimbabwe's land sector has a huge potential to contribute to the national gross domestic product.
The project being supported by the EU and the UNDP will also help sustain the establishment of the Zimbabwe Land Commission, which is a critical institution in land administration in the country.
Source - zbc
