Staff Reporter
The Government and European Union (EU) have today signed two milestone Financial Agreements which constitute the 2022 Annual Action Plan for the EU’s support to Zimbabwe under the 2021-2027 Multi Annual Indicative Programme.
The two agreements are based on ‘Improving Health Outcomes for the Population of Zimbabwe’ (IHOPZ) where Zimbabwe will receive EUR41 million, and ‘Support to the Zimbabwean Electoral Process’ (SZEP) where the country will receive EUR6 million.
In his key note address after the signing of the two agreements, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube said that the IHOPZ will be channelled through the newly established Health Resilience Fund (HDF).
“The ‘Improving Health Outcomes for the Population of Zimbabwe’ support will be channelled through the newly established Health Resilience Fund (HRF), a successor to the Health Development Fund (HDF).
“The Project will be implemented by Government, Ministry of Health and Child Care and UNICEF, and has the objective of saving lives, with a strategic focus on leaving no one behind, targeting the most vulnerable in society, as well as, strengthening health delivery systems and the sector’s preparedness against emerging diseases,” said Minister Ncube.
According to Minister Ncube, the continuous support by EU and other development partners is commendable and has been vital in strengthening Zimbabwe’s healthcare service delivery.
“The country remains focused at achieving the highest standard of health care delivery and to attain high quality of life for all citizens. We are cognisant of the fact that on our own we might not be able to achieve this aspiration, hence the importance of forging strong partnerships with all key stakeholders, including Development Partners like the European Union,” he said.
Concurrent to the IHOPZ, SZEP support will also be implemented by Government and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the sole aim of contributing to the consolidation of democracy and peace with particular emphasis on inclusion, participation and representation of women, youth and persons with disabilities in democratic processes.
In total, Zimbabwe has been allocated Euro 148 million for the 2021-2027 Multi Annual Indicative Programme which targets Green economic growth, social recovery and human development as well as good governance and citizens’ rights.
The signing ceremony of the two Financing Agreements between Zimbabwe and EU comes barely a week after representatives from the Commonwealth were in the country to access its readiness to be re-admitted into the club.
Meanwhile, analysts have attributed these bilateral agreements to be a sign that global players are slowly warming up to Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement policy.
