British minister calls for reform

Britain has said that Zimbabwe must face up to the need for democratic reform and economic recovery. Writing in the London 'Financial Times', British Foreign Office Minister Peter Hain said: "Tuesday's overwhelming victory for the 'No' camp in a flawed referendum demonstrated a deep dissatisfaction with the government over this and other issues." Hain said President Robert Mugabe now had the opportunity to unite the country around a programme of reform and recovery. "I appeal to Mr Mugabe not to miss this moment and to face these challenges head on. This is a time for strong political leadership in Zimbabwe. Without this Zimbabwe could well fall over the edge of the abyss," Hain said. Hain said that international donors and financial institutions were ready to help the Zimbabwean government to turn the economy around. But he cautioned that this would only happen if there was a real commitment to sound economic policies of modernisation and privatisation of state-owned enterprises. He said that the upcoming elections were an opportunity for the government to show its commitment to reform and recovery.