Norway freezes assistance to Zimbabwe

Minister of International Development Anne Kristin Sydnes informed the Storting in her development policy statement today that the Government will freeze parts of the government-to-government development assistance to Zimbabwe. Assistance aimed at basic social services directly targeted at the poorest segments of the population will as far as possible be exempted from this decision. No new agreements will be concluded at government-to-government level. The freeze will comprise about NOK 20 million of the remaining NOK 35 million in the country programme for Zimbabwe.

We have been compelled to take this step because of the gravity of the situation and the need to send a clear signal to the authorities in Zimbabwe, said Ms Sydnes. At the same time we will increase our assistance in the human rights and democracy sectors through non-government channels.

Zimbabwe is undergoing a deep political, social and economic crisis. The crisis has recently been aggravated as a result of the growing political violence and unrest in connection with the farm occupations and the upcoming elections.

There is reason to fear that the violence and unrest will prevent free and fair elections. Norway has been viewing the developments in Zimbabwe with growing concern and has protested strongly at the way the authorities have dealt with the situation, said Ms Sydnes.

The Government intends to send observers to the forthcoming elections. This is in keeping with the express desire of representatives of both the opposition and civil society in Zimbabwe. Norway will also be cooperating with other countries in the region in order to try to reduce the intensity of the conflict, and will take the initiative vis-a-vis the UN and the UNDP to help bring the reform process back onto a track that the international donor community can support.

As part of its review of development assistance to Zimbabwe the Government sent a broad-based delegation to the country at the beginning of May. The delegation’s report is now available to the public.