Prime Minister of Zimbabwe’s visit to Australia

Prime Minister Julia Gillard meets with Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai in Canberra this week. Photo: Auspic

Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai and AusAID Director General, Peter Baxter. Photo: Mark Graham

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and AusAID’s Director General Peter Baxter each met with the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai in Canberra this week.

Prime Minister Gillard said Australia was proud to host the visit of Mr Tsvangirai, whose personal courage and sacrifice had embodied the aspirations of an entire population.

The leaders discussed improvements made in Zimbabwe under its unity government since 2009, including economic growth and greater access to food, water and basic services.

'Australia is bringing sustainable long-term improvements to the lives of Zimbabweans,' Mr Baxter said.

'Our assistance is in sectors critical for the country’s recovery, including water and sanitation, agriculture and food security, and governance reform.'

The Australian government, in partnership with the German Aid Agency (GIZ), will be providing $25 million over three years to improve access to clean water and sanitation in six urban centres to benefit 1.65 million people.

Water and sanitation infrastructure will be rehabilitated in the towns of Gweru, Kadoma, Kariba, Norton, Chinhoyi and Bulawayo to provide safe and potable water. Solid waste will be collected to improve sanitation.

$20 million will also be provided over a three-year period to rehabilitate water and power infrastructure, channelled through the African Development Bank.

This investment will benefit about 4 million Zimbabweans in six urban areas—Harare, Masvingo, Mutare, Chegutu, Kwekwe and Chitungwiza—by providing increased reliability and quality of water, restoring wastewater treatment capacity and reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases such as cholera. The funding will also support the rehabilitation of the Hwange power plant and provide more dependable electricity supply across Zimbabwe. Australia is also providing support to increase the technical knowledge of government officials.

In 2012, six Zimbabweans are participating in short courses in public policy and economic governance and two are participating in water and sanitation courses. This is a result of the extension of short-course Australia Awards and Australian Leadership Fellowship Awards to Zimbabwe.

The Australian Government has provided $22 million since 2009, including $6 million in 2011-12, to develop private sector innovations to link smallholder farmers with markets. This initiative—the Zimbabwe Window of the African Enterprise Challenge Fund—is targeting the poor and generating rural employment opportunities.

Australia has also provided $2 million to support the National Population Census being delivered through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The Census will provide up to date information on the Zimbabwe population which will be useful in the lead up to the next election.

More information

Prime Minister’s Media Release—Prime Minister's meeting with the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe [external website]

Last Reviewed: 25 July, 2012