Chissano jets in for crucial talks

BUSINESS REPORTER

Former Mozambican president, Joaquim Chissano, arrived in Zimbabwe Sunday for a crucial indaba to discuss  the country’s economic and governance reforms to anchor debt arrears clearance and resolution process.

The indaba comes in the wake of Zimbabwe battling to clear close to US$20bn foreign debt.

Of this amount, about US$14bn are arrears.

Zimbabwe’s failure to clear  arrears has resulted  in the country  failing to unlock  fresh capital from global funders such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank for more than two decades.

Chissano will co-chair the meeting between government, creditors and development partners on Thursday with African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina.

“I have come here on the invitation of both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and AfDB president Adesina. We will be launching the second meeting  to deal with the arrears and the debt  of Zimbabwe, “ Chissano told journalists at the Robert Mugabe International Airport.

He added: “I have been asked to be the facilitator of this discussion  between Zimbabwe and key stakeholders  so am here for that.”