IMF keert terug naar Zimbabwe

The International Monetary Fund said on Friday it has agreed with Zimbabwe to monitor the country's programs until the end of the year, paving the way for this sub-Saharan nation to clear billions of dollars of its debt arrears. The move marks a major step towards Zimbabwe normalizing relations with the IMF, which suspended its voting rights in 2003 over policy differences with President Robert Mugabe and non-payment of arrears.

"This program is about showing that Zimbabwe can be trusted again," Finance Minister Tendai Biti told reporters in Harare earlier on Friday. "We engaged with the IMF on our terms." While its voting rights were restored in 2010, Zimbabwe has not been able to borrow from international lenders since 1999 when it started defaulting on its debt. The country's external debt now stands at $10.7 billion.