The United States chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch wrote a letter to the World Bank urging the funder to attach strict accountability and transparency measures in financially supporting Zimbabwe to fight COVID-19 and mitigate associated economic and social impacts of the pandemic.
This follows the World Bank plans to provide Zimbabwe with a grant worth US$ 7 million for the Southern African country to respond COVID-19.
“I write today (3 June 2020) with respect to World Bank support to Zimbabwe for coronavirus response, and to urge the Bank to attach accountability and transparency measures to that program,” Risch says in the letter.
“These are important given the need for significant reform of most state institutions in Zimbabwe, pervasive corruption and impunity, and the demonstrated disinterest by the Government of Zimbabwe in the wellbeing of its citizens.”
The US senator says that any package mobilised must incorporate independent Zimbabwean civil society and community voices.
“This extraordinary crisis will require an exceptional response, but it is equally important not to lose sight of the historical behaviour of countries like Zimbabwe where the government has used and continues to use, state resources and international aid to suppress its population and enrich the country’s ruling elite,” Risch says.
“I was relieved to hear that the US$ 7 million grant for Zimbabwe will be managed and implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Dutch Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid), but concerns remain that the funding this grant provides for desperately-needed response initiatives will fall into the wrong hands, directly or indirectly, despite the best intentions of the implementing partners.”
“It is for this reason that I urge the World Bank to impose very strict benchmarks and transparency and accountability measures on the $7 million grant and any future program for Zimbabwe to ensure that procurement processes are fair and transparent; that contracts for goods and services are not awarded to Zimbabwean companies under U.S. sanctions or known to engage in corrupt practices (as was the case with the Zimbabwean government’s Command Agriculture program); that distribution of assistance is not discriminatory or manipulated for political gain or to bolster the security sector; and that projects are completed in a timely fashion as planned,” he went on.
Zimbabwe is currently not able to access funds from financial institutions due to arrears.
The country was not included amongst African countries that benefitted from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the wake of COVID-19 this year.
