National Assembly Cape Town: 21 August 2007  

It should be viewed as positive and commendable the Resolution of SADC Head of State Summit in Zambia to urgently put together an Economic Recovery Plan for Zimbabwe, to be led jointly by the finance Ministers of SADC Member States.  The economy of Zimbabwe is relatively on the periphery of all other economies of SADC Members and Communities and therefore an indispensable entity in the current process of Regional Economic Integration and development within SADC. 

On May 12, 1789 William Wilberforce remarked in the British Parliament: "Let us make reparation to Africa, so far as we can, establishing a trade upon true commercial principles and we shall soon find the rectitude of our conduct rewarded by the benefits of a regular and a growing commerce." 

Perhaps it is now opportune for Britain to consider leading the EU to review the economic sanctions against Zimbabwe and establish with SADC meaningful ways of making the envisaged economic Recovery Plan a reality. 

It may be appropriate development strategy at this point in the history of Zimbabwe and the region for the Finance Ministers so charged by SADC, to introduce a participatory economic system with the people of Zimbabwe participating, directing and managing their economy at all levels, beginning with the community-based economies, to deal directly with the immense challenges of poverty, unemployment and hardships. This is one other important requisite for fair and free elections.