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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe recovery costs 'massive' | Zimbabwe recovery costs 'massive' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said the cost of rebuilding his country's economy could run as high as $5bn (£3.5bn). | Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said the cost of rebuilding his country's economy could run as high as $5bn (£3.5bn). |
| Mr Tsvangirai was speaking after meeting officials in neighbouring South Africa to discuss a recovery plan. | Mr Tsvangirai was speaking after meeting officials in neighbouring South Africa to discuss a recovery plan. |
| Zimbabwe's political deadlock recently ended with a power-sharing deal, but the economy is in a state of collapse. | Zimbabwe's political deadlock recently ended with a power-sharing deal, but the economy is in a state of collapse. |
| Also on Friday, the UN said more than 80,000 people had now been infected by Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak. | Also on Friday, the UN said more than 80,000 people had now been infected by Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak. |
| At least 3,759 people had died from the disease, the World Health Organization said. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai was in South Africa with Finance Minister Tendai Biti, where they met South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and Finance Minister Trevor Manuel. | Mr Tsvangirai was in South Africa with Finance Minister Tendai Biti, where they met South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and Finance Minister Trevor Manuel. |
| Both Zimbabwean officials are members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which recently agreed to form a unity government with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF. | Both Zimbabwean officials are members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which recently agreed to form a unity government with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF. |
| Investment needed | Investment needed |
| The power-sharing deal was agreed after disputed elections and months of talks, during which the economy slid into a deepening crisis. We are going to use a multi-currency approach Morgan Tsvangirai Zimbabwean prime minister Harare diary: 'Motivated workers' | The power-sharing deal was agreed after disputed elections and months of talks, during which the economy slid into a deepening crisis. We are going to use a multi-currency approach Morgan Tsvangirai Zimbabwean prime minister Harare diary: 'Motivated workers' |
| "As for the long-term economic recovery it has not been assessed," Mr Tsvangirai was quoted as saying at a press briefing in Cape Town. | "As for the long-term economic recovery it has not been assessed," Mr Tsvangirai was quoted as saying at a press briefing in Cape Town. |
| But he added: "I think it would run into billions of dollars, maybe as high as $5bn." | But he added: "I think it would run into billions of dollars, maybe as high as $5bn." |
| Inflation in Zimbabwe - estimated by some economists at 10 sextillion per cent - has left its currency almost worthless. | Inflation in Zimbabwe - estimated by some economists at 10 sextillion per cent - has left its currency almost worthless. |
| Mr Biti said earlier this week that soldiers and civil servants would be paid in US dollars. | Mr Biti said earlier this week that soldiers and civil servants would be paid in US dollars. |
| But on Friday Mr Tsvangirai ruled out adopting the South African rand. | But on Friday Mr Tsvangirai ruled out adopting the South African rand. |
| "Our currency is devalued almost to a point of non-use, so we are going to use a multi-currency approach," he said. | "Our currency is devalued almost to a point of non-use, so we are going to use a multi-currency approach," he said. |
| "But at the moment there is no talk about the randification [of the currency]. It is a multi-currency facility we are looking at." | "But at the moment there is no talk about the randification [of the currency]. It is a multi-currency facility we are looking at." |
| He also said foreign direct investment would be "one of the areas of focus" as Zimbabwe began to rebuild. | He also said foreign direct investment would be "one of the areas of focus" as Zimbabwe began to rebuild. |
| 'Aid is aid' | |
| He also appealed to countries which are wary of giving aid with Mr Mugabe still at the helm. | |
| One person in Roy Bennett's cell died yesterday and the body is still to be removed. Prisoners are literally starving to death. MDC statement | |
| "Aid is aid. We don't care where it comes from as long as it helps Zimbabweans," AP news agency quotes him as saying. | |
| Zimbabwean central bank governor Gideon Gono said international and regional financiers had offered the country $500m in credit, but remain cautious over conflicting policy signals, Reuters news agency reported. | |
| The leaders also discussed the detention of Roy Bennett - the MDC's nominee for deputy agricultural minister - who was arrested last week on charges including terrorism. | |
| The mayor of Mutare, the eastern city where he is in custody, visited Mr Bennett on Friday. | |
| In a statement afterwards, the MDC said the conditions at the prison were "deplorable". | |
| "One person in Roy Bennett's cell died yesterday and the body is still to be removed. Prisoners are literally starving to death," he said. | |
| Mr Bennett's lawyer says his bail hearing will take place at the High Court next Tuesday. |