By 3 News online staff
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai met with John Key at the beehive today and discussed lifting the sanctions New Zealand has against the African nation.
Mr Tsvangirai says his country plans to have proper democratic elections within the next year so they are removed from global black lists barring international trade with them.
He wants Zimbabwe’s economy to grow and the only way to do that is to prove to the world that they are working toward a free and democratic future.
New Zealand has had sanctions against Zimbabwe since 2002 to protest President Robert Mugabe’s human rights abuses.
Mr Key says he is impressed at the progress in Zimbabwe and may look to suspend those sanctions.
“I will go away and speak to the Foreign Affairs Minister about what would be the next appropriate step forward and we will also go and talk to our friends in Australia,” he says.
The European Union would look to suspend sanctions if free and fair elections took place, Mr Key added.
Part of Zimbabwe’s mission to become more democratic includes sending top officials to study New Zealand’s democracy.
“We want Zimbabwe to be part of the global community once again and not continue to be an isolated country,” Mr Tsvangirai says.
“We will definitely implore the international business to come to Zimbabwe to look at trade initiatives.”
The New Zealand Government gives $4.5 million every year to Zimbabwe through Unicef but Mr Key says he could impose rules that it must be spent on ensuring democratic elections take place.
“The case he has made is a compelling one. Why wouldn’t the world respond?...Prime Minister Tsvangirai gave me assurance that real progress is being made,” Mr Key says.
3 News