Chissano flies in for debt indaba
Former Mozambican President Joachim Chissano arrived in Zimbabwe yesterday ahead of
the second structured dialogue platform meeting between Government, creditors and
development partners to discuss economic and governance reforms to anchor the arrears
clearance and debt resolution process that will be held on Thursday.
Former President Chissano was met by Finance and Economic Development Deputy
Minister Clemence Chiduwa at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
He will co-chair the meeting with African Development Bank president Dr Akinwumi
Adesina.
President Mnangagwa last year appointed former President Chissano as the high-level
facilitator of the arrears clearance and debt resolution process, while Dr Adesina was
appointed champion of the process.
Zimbabwe owes US$14 billion to multilateral financial institutions, bilateral partners, and
other creditors.
Speaking to journalists on his arrival, former President Chissano said: “I have come here
on the invitation of both President Mnangagwa and AfDB president Adesina. We will be
launching the second meeting to deal with the arrears and debt of Zimbabwe.
“I have been asked to be the facilitator of this discussion between Zimbabwe and key
stakeholders so I am here for that.”
Former President Chissano said preparations for the meeting will start today, with
p
Deputy Minister Chiduwa expressed the country’s gratitude with the role being played by
the former Mozambican leader.
“As a way forward in terms of what we have done so far, in December (last year) we had
our first meeting and that meeting focused on how best we can go forward,” Deputy
Minister Chiduwa said.
The inaugural structured dialogue platform meeting agreed on three pillars for
implementation, namely economic reforms and stability, governance reforms and land
tenure and compensation of white former commercial farmers, including the resolution of
bilateral investment protection and promotion agreements.
“This then led to two areas, those arrears that we are referring to as reform areas,” said
Deputy Minister Chiduwa.-The Herald
