Zm needs $2B to fix economy

from the aP

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa's finance minister says Zimbabwe has asked countries in the region for $2 billion dollars to salvage its collapsed economy and infrastructure.

Trevor Manuel told South African radio that Zimbabwe wanted half to be used for emergencies in education, health and municipal services. The other half would help kick start retail and other sectors...

But most southern African nations are themselves reeling from the global economic downturn, and there is skepticism about how the money would be used...