UN pledges support for Zimbabwe's economic recovery efforts

A senior UN official is suggesting Zimbabwe has made significant progress in preparations for the upcoming general elections, as well as in its reforms to attract investors to help revive the country's ravaged economy.

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator and Vice Chair of the UN Development Group, has just concluded a three-day visit to Zimbabwe.

Steiner is the first high-level UN official to visit the southern African country in years.

It comes as Zimbabwe prepares to hold an election promised by current President Emmerson Mnangagwa after he took over from long-time leader Robert Mugabe late last year.

Steiner says the UN stands ready to help Zimbabwe through the electoral process.

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator briefs the media in Harare, Zimbabwe, March 17, 2018 following a three-day visit. [Photo: China Plus/Gao Junya]

"The preparatory process for the elections has been supported by the United Nations. Our interest and our commitment is to help the people of Zimbabwe to prepare for a free fair and credible election, ensuring this election is first and foremost an election for Zimbabwe, by Zimbabweans and therefore guaranteed and implemented by Zimbabweans. "

As part of his time in Zimbabwe, Steiner has met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, along with holding meetings with other government officials and representatives from the various political parties in the country.

Steiner says one of the underlying themes in his meetings was discussions about how to revive Zimbabwe's shattered economy.

"But we're also engaged now and will be engaged in a more active manner in the future in the economic recovery. This clearly is critical to the people of Zimbabwe and to the economy as a whole. I don't need to recite to you the figures and harsh reality in terms of poverty, in terms of constraints in many economic sectors, the challenges that this nation has faced for many years. The international community of development partners but also investors across the world have paid attention to the President's commitment that he made at the World Economic Forum in Davos and since then on many other occasions."

Despite the economic hardships the country has gone through over the past decade, Steiner says Zimbabwe still has the tools to recover.

"Zimbabwe is a nation with enormous potential, beginning with its citizens, an educated population that has enormous potential to lead this nation to a different development future. The sectors from agriculture, to mining, to power, to tourism, just mention a few represents significant potentials both in terms of domestic opportunities but also international investment opportunities. I've offered UN's support in assisting government looking at the opportunities for investment but also have the attention in the future economic recovery strategy."

The United Nations funneled over 400 million US dollars into Zimbabwe this past year through various projects and programs.

Among them, the UNDP has spent around 200 million US dollars on programs dedicated to people's livelihoods, democratic governance, climate change and HIV and AIDS programs.