South Africa's cabinet has agreed in principle to provide financial assistance to neighbouring Zimbabwe. A government spokesman said on Wednesday a loan would allow Zimbabwe to resume IMF payments and prevent their expulsion from the body. But he dismissed reports the credit could be $1 billion, saying it "could even be as low as one-tenth of that".Last week, Mr Mugabe visited China seeking financial assistance but he did not obtain the help he had hoped for. South African newspapers reported that Mr Mugabe was only granted $6m for grain imports by Beijing.
| Chinese figured out he was a loser. |