FINANCE minister Tendai Biti and Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, who were tasked by the unity government principals to source funding for the referendum and general elections, have requested the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to help government mobilise close to US$225 million.
Report by Elias Mambo
In a letter to UNDP resident representative Alain Noudehou dated February 4, the two ministers revealed Zimbabwe only has “a combined budget of US$25 million yet the two processes are currently estimated to be in excess of US$250 million”.
“On behalf of the government of Zimbabwe, we formally request UNDP for assistance in mobilising resources to cater for the funding gap for both the constitutional referendum and general elections,” read the letter.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) had budgeted close to US$220 million for the two events, but the amount has been reviewed downwards to US$192 million. The reduction in the budget followed the scrapping of the delimitation exercise.
At least US$85 million is needed for the referendum, while elections would require US$107 million.
Biti and Chinamasa also called for the setting up of a formal structure between government and the UNDP.
“It is our hope that a formal structure in respect of the referendum and elections between yourselves and government be set up similar to the project board that dealt with the constitution-making process.”
The UNDP played a crucial role by mobilising close to US$21 million towards the controversial four-year constitution-making process that gobbled up about US$50 million.
However, the request comes at a time the United Nations is appealling for US$131 million for humanitarian assistance to meet food, water and emergency needs in the country.
Noudehou said last month at least US$110 million of the money would be used to provide food for more than 1,6 million Zimbabweans facing starvation.
What a shame to beg money for such important national programs, and we say we are a sovereign country. We drive state of art vehicles and we have a nerve to write letters begging for money as if this country hasn’t any resources lord have mercy on us.
ko diamond revenue iripi, why not ask the diamond mining sector for funds, they are raising millions for a one day bob torunament
bantwabami.isitimela lesi elisigibele bhekani ukuthi silinhloko .oginye izapu uginye ipoison.cried joshua nkomo.we need devolution so that we can manage our welfare not this chaos which is happening outside mthwakazi.
undp?ndeye varungu ka iyo Zanu pf yakukumbira mari kuvanhu vakaipa masanctions!
but komuredhi loudmouth chinamasa and his zanu pf sidekicks said that zimbabwe is a sovereign state which will never source for funds from any quarter . talk of eating the humble pie .
Zimbabwe has both above ground & underground wealth of massive proportions. Added to this is a high value workforce, well educated and creative wealth creators and as such requires simply a medium of stability at governmental level, strong FDI based on international laws protecting foreign investment and when this in place, addressing the US 11 Billion outstanding national debt. First move is to get your elections done & dusted.
Ko mari yema DIAMONDS irikupi? Basa rekupemha hamunyare. Why should the West sponsor this charade? Akin to sponsoring a civil war. Zimbabwea cannot spent recklessly and hope someone in the West will bail them out.
Kutsva kudumbu nekumusana chaioko we need this referendum and the elections for the country to move a step forward but It seems we are penniless but we have the revenue from diamonds. Zvinoshamisa and zvinonyadzisa but like I cursed we are a cursed country titivenhamo I guess we should learn to live with it.