UK gives clarification on myths, realities of policy on Zimbabwe.

Text of report by South Africa-based ZimOnline website on 10 February

[British Embassy in Harare: "Full Text: Myths, Realities of UK Policy Towards Zimbabwe"]

Myth 1: The United Kingdom wants Zimbabwe to collapse to help bring about regime change.

Reality: The United Kingdom is seriously concerned about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, generated by ZANU PF policy, and the suffering this is causing for the Zimbabwean people. The Department for International Development is currently running the United Kingdom's largest ever aid programme to Zimbabwe, and will spend around AGBP49 million this financial year. British funding has supported the livelihoods of small farmers, helped treat HIV, improved maternal and child health, supplied essential medicines, protected orphans and assisted migrants and internally displaced people. This is in addition to contributions to the World Food Programme's food aid operations (AGBP9 million this year) and the AGBP10 million package to help fight the current cholera outbreak. The only thing pressing Zimbabwe towards collapse is regime policy. …