The Insider

Finance Minister Tendai Biti presents his annual, probably last, budget on Thursday. With their obsession for elections, most people will probably be looking at whether he provides anything for elections, and how much.

(86 VIEWS)

Former Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Sullivan that he disliked price controls and hoped that with the help of other moderates within the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front he could push for more reforms.

(49 VIEWS)

Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa had tea and coffee with 14 chief executive officers without milk because his office could not find any milk.

(50 VIEWS)

Chamber of Mines chief executive officer David Murangari said mining companies could only stay in operation if they were allowed to retain more foreign exchange earnings.

(60 VIEWS)

ExxonMobil, one of the largest oil companies in the world, urged Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa at the beginning of 2003 to ask the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe to stop subsidising fuel imports.

(47 VIEWS)

Former Masvingo Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front boss Eddison Zvobgo said Solomon Mujuru, Simba Makoni and Shadreck Beta were among those who wanted President Robert Mugabe to resign.

(86 VIEWS)

Zimbabwe’s industrialists called on the government to abandon its impractical economic policies at the beginning of 2003 but wondered whether President Robert Mugabe would listen.

(38 VIEWS)

Zimbabwe talks mediator Thabo Mbeki wrote a 10-page letter to Prime Minister designate and Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai rebuking the MDC for lack of concern about the plight of Zimbabweans and excessive ties to the West.

(77 VIEWS)

Movement for Democratic Change leader and Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai told French officials that he would only participate in a government of national unity if President Robert Mugabe agreed to real power-sharing and the political agreement was accompanied by legal and constitutional changes that would give the force of law to such an arrangement.

(47 VIEWS)

The Zimbabwean government was reported to be furious that the South African government had allowed Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai to fly to Europe using an emergency travel document that was supposed to be valid for South Africa and Swaziland only.

(66 VIEWS)