Despite President Robert Mugabe’s continued misrule of Zimbabwe, Norway has decided it will resume cash aid to the desperate African nation that it cut off back in 2000. Norway admits that Mugabe has brought little more than “years of misrule, embezzlement and hyperinflation” to Zimbabwe, but the nation is set to receive NOK 58 million from the Norwegian government.
Reuters reports the cash will be distributed to various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the United Nations, and the World Bank. They, in turn, will use the cash to boost health and education programs in Zimbabwe, as well as try to encourage the fledgling government of national unity currently struggling to survive.
“Zimbabwe has stared down into the abyss, but is determined to climb out of it. If the new government proves capable of functioning, Zimbabwe could become an example of a country that has avoided becoming a failed state,” Norway’s Minister of International Development, Erik Solheim, said.
“It is therefore important to support Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the new Unity Government to help the country rebuild,” Solheim continued. “If we fail to support those who are fighting for change now, Zimbabwe could become a new Somalia.”
Norway is one of the first nations to resume cash aid to Zimbabwe, and other Western aid is still only just beginning to trickle in. The World Bank recently announced it would be giving a USD 22 million grant to Zimbabwe, its first to the country since 2001. The UK also promised USD 23.9 million in humanitarian aid in April.
Is good to help
NORWAY DECEIVE THE WORLD TO SELL WEAPONS TO COUNTRIES OF CONFLICT THEY MAY BE SELLING WEAPONS TO NORTH KOREA IN THE NAME OF PEACE VIVA NORTH KOREA
YES, NIELS, U ARE SO RIGHT !! WHY DO THE NATIONS GIVE TAX MONEY TO ANIMALS LIKE MUGABE, THE POOR PEOPLE ARE STARVING AND THE GOVERNMENT STEELS THE MONEY!! LOOK AT WHAT THE US. GIVES TO AFRICA ! AND NOW WE HAVE OBAMA !!! WHAT A SICK PICTURE!
Darrell Monteith,
Exactly, Ian Smith predicted that with black majority rule the country would be ruined in 10 to 20 years. He was completely right (but probably even he could not foresee HOW bad it has become). Anyway, good to know that thanks to countries like Norway Mugabe’s miserable regime will be able to hang on to power a bit longer
Øystein,
So first Norway gives aid and support to Hamas, even receives its leaders, helping them to fire rockets at innocent civilians in Israel. Then it sells weapons to Israel and when this country defends itself,using amongst others, norwegian weapons, Norway screams out loudly and antisemmitically against the ‘evil jews’ misstreating ‘innocent palestinians’.
Then it gives even more aid to Hamas and the whole story can start over again, while Norway makes a profit.
How hypocrite can a country be?
Do you really think it is strange that Norway has completely and utterly lost its reputation as a broker of peace in the world?
Kissing the *ss of Hamas and Mugabe and insulting jews….great society!
Niels – “Good to know for the norwegian tax payers that their money is not just sent to terror organizations like Hamas but also to the worst dictator in Africa.”
You know, we earned so much on Israel wben they bought Norwegian weapon last year. So if we support terrorists, you do to ;-)
Good to know for the norwegian tax payers that their money is not just sent to terror organizations like Hamas but also to the worst dictator in Africa.
Even if the money is not paid to Mugabe directly but (apparently) to NGO’s, it will only help to strengthen his regime.
In the past Mugabe has used foreign food aid as a means of terror against his opponents: regions and towns which did not vote for him in the ‘elections’ were simply deprived of food aid!
Remember: it is the regime which distributes the aid…
Perhaps a good idea to give support to North Korea as well? I hope Norway does not forget poor Kim Jung Il.
Norway shamefully once refused Ian Smith permission to attend the wedding of his son in Norway. The people who took that stance then should ask themselves how many fewer would have been killed and how many fewer starved if they had supported Ian Smith and allowed moderate blacks to move into a position of control in a planned way in Rhodesia.
If you were to count the unnecessary deaths in Africa because many weakling European governments supported Mugabe and put him in power, the body count would probably make most Nazi war criminals look like angels.