New Zealand’s Key to meet Zimbabwe prime minister

NEW ZEALNAD will consider lifting sanctions against Zimbabwe after a meeting between Prime Minister John Key and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mr Key announced Mr Tsvangirai’s visit on Monday, saying they would meet on Wednesday.

Mr Tsvangirai has been a champion for democratic change and was the leading opposition figure in Zimbabwe before his party agreed in 2008 to a power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe.

New Zealand cut ties with Zimbabwe in 2002 and imposed travel and financial .

It has since waived sanctions to allow Zimbabwean sports teams to visit New Zealand.

Mr Key says he will be asking Mr Tsvangirai about reforms in Zimbabwe and “what would be the best way forward” to eliminate human rights abuses.

“I don’t have an announcement in my back pocket but I will be discussing with him whether he believes sanctions are still applicable,” Mr Key told reporters on Monday.

“I want to talk to him about what gains have been achieved through power-sharing.”

Mr Key indicated it would be some time before a decision on lifting sanctions was made.