Pushing Mugabe ‘risks chaos’

JOHANNESBURG – Western pressure for President Robert Mugabe’s removal from office could lead to chaos in Zimbabwe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told Reuters on Saturday, in comments that may discourage donors.

‘This man is part of the solution, whether you like him or not,’ Tsvangirai said in an interview, adding it was up to Mugabe, in power since 1980, to decide when to step down.’If you push somebody out and you are not even sure what will happen when you push somebody out, then the result is unpredictable. Who is going to manage that situation? It could be chaotic.’Western powers have welcomed Zimbabwe’s new unity government led by old foes Mugabe and Tsvangirai, but have made it clear they would prefer it if Mugabe was not in power.Tsvangirai, who has just finished a tour of European countries and the United States which secured limited aid, said he would take measures to lure international investors, such as allowing majority foreign ownership in the mining and agriculture sectors and that such policies were under review.’I’m very flexible. I’m prepared to allow majority ownership,’ said Tsvangirai.In another attempt to get badly needed foreign investment in Zimbabwe’s ruined economy, Tsvangirai said some state companies would be privatised.He predicted industrial capacity would reach 50-60 per cent within a year, a level that would enable sustained economic growth within three years.On a less optimistic note, the prime minister said he did not expect to revive the use of the Zimbabwe dollar in the near future, keeping the country dependent on foreign currencies in an attempt to rebuild the economy. – Nampa-Reuters