- The United States government said it will not lift its development aid sanctions on Zimbabwe until President Robert Mugabe has shown true power sharing deal with country's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change, the US State department said.
The US rejection followed the African Union Summit call in Ethiopia this week for Western nations to lift development aid sanctions on the impoverished Southern African state.
According to a statement issued by State Department late yesterday, the US will only consider new development assistance and easing of targeted sanctions when there is clear evidence of power-sharing as well as inclusive and effective governance. However, the US said it will continue to provide humanitarian assistance.
President Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to form a coalition government last month, a step aimed at ending the country's political impasse, almost five months after signing the power sharing agreement in September last year.
"The success or failure of such a government will depend on credible and inclusive power sharing by Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party," the department said, urging the Southern African Development Community to fulfill its obligation to guarantee a genuine unity government.
President Mugabe cemented his 28 year rule last June when Mr Tsvangirai dropped out the run off election trail, blaming ruling ZANU PF for violence against his supporters.
Talks in Zimbabwe's capital Harare aimed at choosing a cabinet failed to start yesterday after President Mugabe traveled to Ethiopia for an African Union summit.
If Zimbabwe is to form the new government before 13 February as ordered by SADC, it will have to deal with the collapsed economy, which has been dragging for decade since President Mugabe introduced land report programme. It also has to tackle the collapsed health system and cholera outbreak which has killed over 3, 000 people and with more than 60, 000 infected.
The country has a record inflation of 231 million percent, though other economists argue it is way beyond what the government claim it to be.
The United Nations also estimates that at least 6.9 million people, more than half the population, need emergency food aid.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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