Herald Reporter
Newly appointed United Nations Resident Co-ordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli has been urged to bring a positive impact to relations between Zimbabwe and the world body that have been affected by sanctions imposed by the West.

The call was made by Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo during a courtesy call at his Munhumutapa offices by Mr Parajuli yesterday.

Sources who attended the meeting said Prof Moyo told Mr Parajuli that in the last 10 to 15 years, partnership in development had been played down by the sanctions.

“The minister pointed out that things turned for the worse in 2008 because of attempts that were made by Western representatives in Zimbabwe who attempted to push for sanctions in the United Nations Security Council against Zimbabwe using the UN Charter 7 Article 41,” said the source.

“He went on to explain how it all played out in Zimbabwe, with the Western countries’ ambassadors organising themselves through the Fishmonger group. The Minister pointed out that they tried to influence the UNDP office in Zimbabwe. There was a clear attempt to take the regime change agenda to the UN and that disturbed the relationship with the UN country team.”

The source said Prof Moyo said the development thrust pursued by the UN in Zimbabwe in the first two decades of independence had shifted.

He explained to Mr Parajuli that the formation of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition was done with attempts being made for the UN to buy-in.

“He said instead of Crisis Coalition, we should now talk about a development coalition and the UN representative agreed that there is need to move towards that,” said the source.

“The Minister made reference to President Mugabe’s emphasis on the UN family. He said President Mugabe is particular about the UN and that Zimbabwe is committed to supporting the UN.”

The source said Prof Moyo briefed Mr Parajuli on the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry which is compiling its report which would be shared with stakeholders, including the UNDP, for partnerships on projects that could have been identified.

The source said Mr Parajuli told Prof Moyo that some progress had been made in the funding of the education and health sectors by the UN agencies.

“He went on to embrace the thrust of the ministry and the minister in having a plural and transparent media and said the UNDP is ready to assist the media with training and technical assistance,” said the source.

Speaking to the media after the courtesy call, Mr Parajuli said the UN was ready to assist with the implementation of Zim-Asset projects.

“We are working on lots of capacity building and support, basically the Zim-Asset philosophy and the UN is developing a framework of co-operation for the next five years,” he said.

“We have many consultations and we are finalising some of the details in terms of UN priority and Government priority, how we put that together.”

Mr Parajuli arrived in Zimbabwe in September and has been busy meeting Government ministers to get a true picture of what needs to be done by the UNDP in various sectors.

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