afrol News, 22 June - The British government has announced an extra US$ 8 million of transitional aid to Zimbabwe, but the money will not be channeled direct through government, as the United Kingdom is still cautiously watching the democratic developments in the shaky power sharing deal.

Announcing the extra aid package today after meeting the Zimbabwean Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the aid would be channeled through aid agencies. The extra funding would bring the total British transitional aid for Zimbabwe this year to $98 million.

Over 50 percent of the package, according to Mr Brown will be devoted to food aid, while the rest will help revive the country’s education, especially in buying text books for the young Zimbabweans.

The visit to Britain, which was also expected to be a lobby round for the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe and especially president Robert Mugabe and his allies, was rounding off Mr Tsvangirai’s tour of the US and Europe. He is expected back home this week.

Zimbabwe has been lobbying the world’s nations and donors for support on its fundraising campaign to revive the country’s economy which had slumped to the record deepest end.

However, even after the February power sharing deal between the opposition and Mr Mugabe, global players have been reluctant to extend a free lending hand, still holding suspicions against the Southern African dictator, Mr Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party, who have been in power since independence.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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