The Netherlands government yesterday turned down Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s request for the lifting of economic sanctions and a financial package, saying they wanted to see “more reforms”.

PM Tsvangirai was in the Netherlands on the first leg of a six-nation tour that will take him to the United States, France, Britain, Sweden and Belgium on a brief from President Mugabe and Cabinet to call for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Radio Netherlands reported that PM Tsvangirai met his Dutch counterpart Mr Jan Balkenende yesterday but came out empty-handed as The Dutch Premier, who acknowledged the inclusive Government’s commitment to reforms, asked for political, economic and social reforms before his country can release any assistance.

Asked whether going back home empty-handed would not cause tension within the inclusive Government, PM Tsvangirai said the purpose of his visit was to educate “our partners” on political developments in Zimbabwe.

“The objective is to educate, educate, and educate our partners. It’s not about going around with the begging bowl, because we believe that the country has been isolated the last 10 years and it is time to normalise relations and that doesn’t come cheap. It has to be reciprocal. We have to do something which we said we are going to do.”

Government has, however, already instituted a number of reforms by launching the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme and embarking on a constitution-making process.

Parliament is also in the process of recruiting persons to serve on four independent commissions, namely the Zimbabwe Media Commission, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.

Radio Netherlands said PM Balkenende told journalists after meeting PM Tsvangirai that financial aid to Zimbabwe would not resume until the new Government demonstrated “progress” on economic, political and social reforms.

“We are convinced that if they go in the right direction, then it will be much easier for us to support Zimbabwe,” Radio Netherlands quoted PM Balkenende as saying.

He, however, acknowledged that the inclusive Government had demonstrated commitment “to improve things”.

On Sunday, PM Tsvangirai met Dutch Development Co-operation Minister Mr Bert Koenders and assured him that the problems the country was facing were not “insoluble”.

From Netherlands, PM Tsvangirai’s next stop is Washington, DC, where he is expected to meet US President Barack Obama.

(Source)