Authors expose Zim
15/10/2004 14:32  - (SA)  

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UN ambushed us - Zim UN ambushed us - Zim

Zimbabwe Special Report  Latest Zimbabwe Stories

Harare - The Zimbabwe government was consulted during the compilation of a report criticising it, which was presented to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the document's authors said on Thursday.

Throughout the week the state-controlled Herald has slated the report claiming it was "ambushed" at the Africa Union conference in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

Zimbabwe's information minister Jonathan Moyo earlier criticised the UN for releasing the report before his delegation had been given the opportunity to read it.

"The Zimbabwean delegation reiterates that it was unprocedural, unfair and unacceptable for the ECA to circulate this report as it was being presented. Because this was not done, the report ended up assuming the character of an ambush."

However the writers of the report, the Southern African Political Economic Series Trust, refuted the allegation on Thursday.

It said in a statement: "Government ministries consulted during the compilation of this report include public service, lands and agriculture, local government, foreign affairs, defence, home affairs, education and health."

Sapes said the report was launched at a function in Harare "with a speech written by justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and presented on his behalf by his ministry's permanent secretary David Mangota".

"Sapes and UNECA would not put their reputations on the line by submitting inaccurate data to an important meeting such as the one taking place in Addis Ababa.

"The final report was submitted to the ministry of foreign affairs prior to the Addis Ababa meeting," Sapes said.

Moyo's ministry was not immediately available for comment.

- SAPA

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