Zim appeals to UN for election funds
2013-02-08 10:15
Special Report
Chinese vice premier Wang Yang has urged Zimbabwe to ensure peace and political stability ahead of elections this year.
Cape Town – Zimbabwe has appealed to the United Nations
Development Fund (UNDP) and other donors to help raise $250m needed for a
constitutional referendum and general elections later this year.
New Zimbabwe.com reported on Friday that Justice Minister
Patrick Chinamasa, who along with his finance counterpart Tendai Biti were
charged by the coalition administration to find the money confirmed the appeal.
"I can confirm that we wrote a joint letter with the Finance
Minister Tendai Biti to that effect," Chinamasa said.
"What I can also say is that we have not factored in the
money needed by the police for security provision, and authorities are
interrogating the figures to come out with the exact figure required for the
two processes."
Biti, who recently revealed that the government was left
with just over $200 in its accounts after paying civil servants last month,
says Zimbabwe does not have the capacity to fund the referendum and the elections.
A new constitution, part of a raft of reforms expected to
lead to new elections, has been endorsed by parliament and is expected to
be put to a national referendum at the end of next month.
New elections are expected before year end although Mugabe
wants the polls held in June.
- News24
