Zimbabwe’s entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa has appealed to the international financiers to support Zimbabwe and Sudan in the wake of economic devastation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zimbabwe is one of the countries that was left out when 25 countries received relief funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“We are deeply concerned about the potential loss of life if international aid does not come quickly, specially to address the needs of this pandemic,” Masiyiwa says
“I would like to appeal to the World Bank, IMF and other multilateral institutions, to create humanitarian Trusts for each country, which are managed by third parties, along the lines of the Global Fund.”
The Zimbabwean Billionaire says the appeal is not for the lifting of sanctions.
“While I don’t want to get into the issues around how and why there are sanctions, everyone knows that I personally had to flee my country, Zimbabwe, because of persecution 20 years ago. I have not been back since,” Masiyiwa says.
“I am not a politician, just an entrepreneur working day and night to create wealth and jobs across many African nations.”
“I have not spoken to anyone in the governments of these countries, including that of Zimbabwe, with respect to this matter. I have no personal contact with the leaders of these governments,” he went on.
Despite the plea for support, Masiyiwa said he was pleased with the growing support for the measures to mitigate COVID-19.
“At the last World Bank, IMF and G20 meetings, many African countries secured debt relief by way of ‘standstills’ on interest payments, which are valued at over US$22bn. More than half of that money has been disbursed already to countries in Africa, as it was sitting in debt service accounts.”
“These African countries can now urgently buy Medical Equipment, PPE, ventilators. They can also train and pay doctors and nurses.”
“Two countries were conspicuous in their omission from any form of relief: Zimbabwe and Sudan. This is because they are under sanctions,” went on Masiyiwa.
