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Harare - Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said he does not expect any new foreign loans in the next two
to three years, but added that Zimbabwe would need to be in good standing
with financial institutions if it was to borrow
more.
"To do that, we need to pursue policies that show that we are building capacity for economic recovery. If we are doing the wrong things, silly things then of course you can't be in good standing," said Chinamasa on Thursday.
One of the policies was to clarify Zimbabwe's controversial black economic empowerment law that forces foreign-owned firms to sell at least 51% shares to locals, he said.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), which is owed $655m, has taken the lead role to have Zimbabwe's debt cancelled to allow the country to access fresh and cheaper loans to rebuild ageing infrastructure.
International lenders like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) stopped lending to Zimbabwe in 1999 when the government defaulted on its loan re-payments.
Chinamasa said the government had carried a review of its foreign debt, which he put at $8.9bn as of last December, lower than previous estimates of more than $10bn.
He also said that up to five Zimbabwean banks are 'ill', without naming the stressed lenders, adding that this will not have an impact on the overall sector due to their small size.
Banks in the southern African country are struggling due to inadequate capital and growing non-performing loans, which has prompted the central bank to consider establishing a body to take over bad loans.
Zimbabwe is struggling to lure foreign investors who want to see consistent economic policy and a stable political environment before committing funds.
Chinamasa told journalists that the central bank had this week introduced an interbank market, where banks borrow from others with surpluses, for the first time since 2009 when the country ditched its currency in favour of foreign money.
Zimbabwe is battling a US dollar shortage due to a lack of inflows as foreign investors remained concerned over President Robert Mugabe's economic polices.
"The three or four or five banks which are ill, because of their size, its not contagious on the general financial services sector," Chinamasa told journalists. He did not give details.
"To do that, we need to pursue policies that show that we are building capacity for economic recovery. If we are doing the wrong things, silly things then of course you can't be in good standing," said Chinamasa on Thursday.
One of the policies was to clarify Zimbabwe's controversial black economic empowerment law that forces foreign-owned firms to sell at least 51% shares to locals, he said.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), which is owed $655m, has taken the lead role to have Zimbabwe's debt cancelled to allow the country to access fresh and cheaper loans to rebuild ageing infrastructure.
International lenders like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) stopped lending to Zimbabwe in 1999 when the government defaulted on its loan re-payments.
Chinamasa said the government had carried a review of its foreign debt, which he put at $8.9bn as of last December, lower than previous estimates of more than $10bn.
He also said that up to five Zimbabwean banks are 'ill', without naming the stressed lenders, adding that this will not have an impact on the overall sector due to their small size.
Banks in the southern African country are struggling due to inadequate capital and growing non-performing loans, which has prompted the central bank to consider establishing a body to take over bad loans.
Zimbabwe is struggling to lure foreign investors who want to see consistent economic policy and a stable political environment before committing funds.
Chinamasa told journalists that the central bank had this week introduced an interbank market, where banks borrow from others with surpluses, for the first time since 2009 when the country ditched its currency in favour of foreign money.
Zimbabwe is battling a US dollar shortage due to a lack of inflows as foreign investors remained concerned over President Robert Mugabe's economic polices.
"The three or four or five banks which are ill, because of their size, its not contagious on the general financial services sector," Chinamasa told journalists. He did not give details.
