Tsvangirai calls for French aid

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has appealed to France for investment and political support, amid criticism that his coalition government is not moving fast enough to end his country’s economic and humanitarian crisis.

Mr Tsvangirai is meeting with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Paris, the last stop in a long tour of the US and Europe aimed at shoring up international backing.

The Zimbabwean prime minister will meet Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, a group of leading French executives and with the director of the French Development Agency.

Zimbabwe has had the highest inflation rate in the world, thousands have died during a major cholera outbreak, and much of the population lacks food. Many blame Robert Mugabe, but have been increasingly critical of Mr Tsvangirai.

Mr Tsvangirai won presidential elections last year and is in a power-sharing agreement with authoritarian President Mugabe.

In Britain this week, Mr Tsvangirai insisted that his country’s coalition government is improving the dire humanitarian and economic crisis, and he urged exiles to return home to help rebuild. Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged 5 million pounds in new aid for food projects and textbooks, and said more funding was likely if Zimbabwe showed clear progress on reforms.

But, like other international donors, Britain said aid would be distributed by charities — not Zimbabwe’s government. The US and Britain want Mr Mugabe to step down, and are reluctant to offer Zimbabwe major aid, or to donate money direct to the country’s government. Press Association