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Interview
with Swedish ambassador on the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe
Taurai Maduna,
Kubatana.net
February 24, 2006
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SIDA pledges continued support for child rights project in Murehwa
View audio file details
  After
presenting his credentials to the President of Zimbabwe at State
House on February 16, 2006, Mr Sten Rylander the new Swedish Ambassador
to Zimbabwe made his first trip outside Harare to Murehwa district
located 85 km North East of Harare.
In Murehwa,
the Ambassador handed over a vehicle and two motorbikes for the
community child rights project being implemented by the Human
Rights Trust of Southern Africa (SAHRIT).
The Ambassador
spoke to journalists on a number of issues after the hand-over ceremony.
Issues discussed included the strained relationship between the
European Union and Zimbabwe; the role of NGO's in Zimbabwe and the
importance of children's rights.
Direct
translations from the ambassador
Relationship between Sweden and Zimbabwe
"We do actually a lot still and we are building on the old
relationship from the liberation struggle, solidarity network that
developed over a number of years humanitarian support to ZANU and
ZAPU at the time."
"It has
created a very special relationship between my country and Zimbabwe
that I'm proud of. At the same time now we have problems. I think
you are all aware of the strained relationship between the Zimbabwe
government and the European Union. But it has not stopped us in
Sweden or other members states in the European Union, for that matter
to support the people of Zimbabwe strongly through civil society,
through the United Nations system." listen
to audio
The ambassador
speaks about his tour of duty
"One of the most important parts of my mission is to find ways
to encourage change, political and economic change, so Zimbabwe
can come back to normal and in a normal situation sanctions and
other things will fade away, will fall away. But we need efforts
to strengthen governance to deal with economic stability where you
have world record high inflation. I can just refer to a presentation
by Governor Gono a couple if weeks ago when he mentioned all these
things that need to be done and I hope they will be done and that
we can build bridges. Your president mentioned bridge building recently.
I think we can find ways and means to move in a good direction and
will establish a good link between Zimbabwe and the international
community." listen
to audio
Comment of
the relationship between Government and NGO's
"I think also that this era when the NGO civil society was
questioned, we are passed that stage, I think. The NGO Bill was
passed by parliament but not signed by your president. It was meant
to put a lot of restrictions on NGO activities. I think and hope
that it will not happen because you need a strong NGO community
to deal with economic and social problems." listen
to audio
Childrens
rights
"Don't detain children, don't put them in prison, I don't think
they do it in Murehwa but they have done it in other places including
Harare. So that is another lesson you can pick up from here. When
you have a lot of knowledge about the rights of children you will
not detain them or put them in prison." listen
to audio
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