The issue of Zimbabwe could see developed nations lose their collective vigour for plans to revive Africa, British Minister for Africa Valerie Amos said on Monday.
Foreign investors also feared the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) would not work, she told the National Press Club in Pretoria.
”The danger is that European Union and the G8 (industrialised nations) … could lose enthusiasm for the collective approach which is at the heart of Nepad.”
Amos is on a week-long visit in South Africa for talks with President Thabo Mbeki and government ministers. She said her experience was that events in Zimbabwe made it much more difficult to promote Nepad.
The question of whether the peer review mechanism under Nepad could really put pressure on Zimbabwe was being asked all the time.
”What they (foreign investors) see is such low-key pressure being put on Zimbabwe … that they think Nepad is a lost cause.”
Another negative was the fact that Zimbabwe paid little attention to whatever pressure was being applied.
The Zimbabwean issue also bedevilled dialogue between Africa and
developed countries.
Amos sought to underline that Zimbabwe would not be allowed to deflect the United Kingdom from supporting Nepad, or from continuing its partnership with South Africa on the plan.
The UK’s involvement in the Iraqi war would also have no affect on its commitment to Africa.
”I can underline to you that Prime Minister Tony Blair’s determination to work with Africa to help it help itself is as strong now as it has ever been,” Amos said. – Sapa