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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe - Source: Reuters -
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Zimbabwe's power-sharing administration will relax media laws
and strive in the next 100 days to end the country's international
isolation, government ministers said.
"Re-engagement of the broader international community including the
US and multilateral institutions, will be a priority of the
government in the next 100 days," Gorden Moyo, minister of state in
the office of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, said.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, a member of President Robert
Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, said: "A core team of ministers has been
set up to spearhead the re-engagement."
The BBC quoted him as saying Zimbabwe was committed to normalising
relations with the European Union, Britain, the United States and
white Commonwealth nations - mainly former British colonies which
have been Mugabe's harshest critics.
Neither minister gave details of how Zimbabwe would go about
repairing ties.
The United States and EU maintain visa bans and asset freezes on
individuals and companies linked to rights abuses in Zimbabwe, as
well as embargoes on arms and equipment which could be used for
internal repression.
Before halting the sanctions and unblocking aid, they are waiting
to see whether Mugabe is serious about sharing power with
Tsvangirai in the unity government that took office in
February.
The re-engagement plan was agreed at a government meeting in
Victoria Falls which also resolved to settle all outstanding issues
in the power-sharing accord within the 100-day framework, Moyo
said.
This included appointing senior government officials, the central
bank governor and the attorney general, he said.
Western donors see the removal of central bank chief Gideon Gono
as a key condition for resuming aid.
Media laws
On Saturday, the government said it aimed to produce results within
the same 100-day timeframe on its economic recovery plan - an
attempt to tackle food and fuel shortages.
Moyo said greater focus would be given to repairing the country's
run-down communications, water and energy infrastructure.
Steps would also be taken on press freedom.
"It was resolved that the media laws be reformed and that space be
provided for more players," he said.
"We are expecting that we will have a new media commission which
will oversee serious steps towards freeing the airwaves in terms of
licensing TV and radio stations and allowing other players from
outside to come and broadcast from Zimbabwe."
The administration has said its short-term emergency recovery
programme STERP will require $14.3 billion over the next two to
three years.
It will depend heavily on help from Western donors and Harare wants financial assistance from countries in the regional grouping SADC.
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