An overview of Swedish development cooperation in Zimbabwe
In 2001, Sweden suspended bilateral cooperation with Zimbabwe´s government due to the deterioating human rights situation in the country. In addition, Zimbabwe's economic policies eroded investor and donor confidence with the result that major international financiers such as the World bank and IMF suspended aid. The political, social and economic situation has since then worsened.
There are no possibilities of resuming long-term development cooperation with the government of Zimbabwe before a change in policies has taken place. The economic and political situation has deteriorated since 2001 and violations of human rights have increased. Sweden acts bilaterally, through the EU, and multilaterally. Humanitarian support is needs-based. Development cooperation with Zimbabwe shall be based on the rights perspective and on the perspective of the poor on development. Of the the central component elements in the Government´s Policy for Global Development, democracy, respect for human rights, equality between women and men, girls and boys, and conflict management are assessed to be the most relevant. These cantral component elements shall permeate all cooperation with Zimbabwe.
The long-term objective of development cooperation in Zimbabwe is to contribute to making it possible for people to improve their living conditions and to achive poverty reduction and democratic development. With this as the point of departure, Swedish support in the future should have to main thrusts: to protect and support vulnerable groups and to make processes of change possible that promote democracy and greater respect for human rights.