HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s new government plans to reduce diplomatic missions and ban first-class travel for everyone but the president as it tries to revive a devastated economy after longtime leader Robert Mugabe resigned last month. The finance minister said the policy will apply only to diamond and platinum mining, emphasizing Zimbabwe’s desperation to re-engage foreign investors. The $5.1 billion proposed budget, to be funded mainly from taxes, needs Parliament’s approval. But the lawmakers roared in disapproval when the finance minister allocated $420 million to the defence ministry and just $408 million to an ailing health sector. The finance minister also set aside $132 million for elections expected for the second half of 2018.

Source: National Post December 07, 2017 15:08 UTC