Zimbabwe finance minister warns of lack of funds
Harare, 15 Mar – (ANA) - Zimbabwe's government could "close" unless projected diamond revenues start to flow into the treasury, Finance Minister Tendai Biti has warned. He said the mines ministry had informed him that no diamond auctions had been held this year. Ministries in the unity government are split between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the MDC party. Mr Biti, an MDC member, also said there was no money budgeted for early elections as favoured by Mr Mugabe.
The power-sharing government - with the MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai serving as prime minister - was formed in 2009, following elections marred by violence.
Analysts say it has achieved stability in Zimbabwe, and after a decade of steep decline the economy is slowly recovering, but it remains fragile and tensions are rising again.
With unemployment at 80%, the country's tax and revenue base remains extremely low. (ANA)
FA/ANA/15 March 2012------