Botswana should be applauded

When the Inclusive Government came into existence in 2009, countries in the SADC region and the world over pledged to help the ailing Zimbabwean economy to retain its original state before the inflationary years that gripped the country.

Hope was restored to Zimbabweans as those who were new in Government, like the MDC formations came, in with promises that donor funds would also flood the country. Some even went on to claim that they hold keys to major donors giving hope to the then hopeless people in the country.

With the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA) vowing that they were not going to remove their illegal sanctions imposed on the country, the Zimbabwean people had no hope of survival.

While the Zimbabwean economy was predicted by the African Development Bank, that it needed at least four billion dollars (US$4billion) in lines of credit so that its struggling industries could get back on their feet, donor countries decided to fold their hands and watch the drama of distressed companies unfold.

 Instead of helping the country get out of its dilemma, both the EU and the USA decided to make their illegal sanctions remain in existence. Recent pleas from Finance Minister Tendai Biti, that sanctions imposed in the country on institutions that promote economic development of the country should be removed, fell on deaf ears.

As if to mock the country, the EU decided to marginally lift sanctions on individuals ignoring from important institutions which could have made the country recover economically.

Having realized that doing fence sitting while the Zimbabwean economy is deteriorating cannot help matters, Botswana chipped in with a credit facility worth about US $70 million meant to revive Zimbabwe's economy.

The lines of credit signed between Zimbabwean and Botswana Finance Ministers, Tendai Biti and Kenneth Matambo respectively in Harare on 03 August 2012, came at a time when the country had no access to international lenders like the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The initiative by Botswana to come with such a package at a time when the international community is failing to bail out the country should be applauded. Botswana has shown the world that friendly countries should be assisted in times of need.

Where other countries have failed to see reason and bail out the ailing economy of Zimbabwe, Botswana has done exceptionally well by chipping in with such an offer.

Some of the countries in Africa and the world over have developed a wait and see attitude while Zimbabwe is in dire need of financial assistance.

Before such an initiative by Botswana, the media has been portraying Zimbabwe and Botswana as countries at a political war. Some media houses went on to say that President Robert Mugabe and Ian Khama do not see eye to eye as they are sworn enemies.

The recent offer by the Botswana government has dispelled that notion which was bent to sow seeds of hatred between friendly nations. While the media was portraying the two countries as enemies, the same media failed to influence those claiming to be friendly to Zimbabwe to come up with any offer.

If the truth  be told, countries which were misleading former opposition leaders into believing that if they manage to get in government they would chip in with substantial amount of donor funds, have withheld their money to the disappointment of many Zimbabweans.

To show how helpful Botswana is, it did not impose its will on Zimbabwe before such a lifeline was offered. The country just felt that her neighbour needs assistance hence her desire to chip in with such a credit facility.

Had that credit facility come from either the European Union or USA, strings would have been attached. The western countries, though developed, have no cheap money.

The WB and the IMF which are controlled by the developed countries, led by the USA and the EU bloc, are not good at releasing such facilities without economic prescription. Zimbabwe once experienced one of its worst era in history in the early 1990s when the WB and the IMF prescribed Economic Structural Adjustment Programs (ESAP) for the country.

 Other African governments should emulate what the Government of Botswana did to Zimbabwe.  They should realise that Africa is for Africans and can only be saved by Africans. If only African leaders could dump the idea of rushing to the USA and EU for financial support in times of depression, the continent would be self reliant

Africa is endowed with vast mineral resources which can sustain the continent, and only the will and cooperation of African countries could save the continent.

Because of Botswana's assistance, companies which have been facing liquidity problems in our country would benefit as they would use such an initiative to recapitalize their operations.

It is now time to wait and see whether other African countries would emulate what the Government of Botswana did to Zimbabwe.