The board of the International Monetary Fund postponed its vote on the fate of Zimbabwe?s membership for another six months. The body conceded that the recent $120 million payment along with the country?s progress in reforming economic policies the government raised fuel prices and eased its monopoly over major grain and fuel imports influenced the decision. It said the deferral would allow Harare "further opportunity to strengthen its cooperation with the IMF." Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa welcomed the news, adding that "Zimbabwe is making steady progress in addressing its economic challenges and … will continue to improve [its] record on paying back the arrears and also on the policy side." While hailing the decision, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe criticized the fund, which, according to him, "is almost never a real assistance to developing countries" and is "willed by the big powers, which dictate what it should do." Mugabe asserted: "We have never been friends of the IMF, and in the future we will never be friends of the IMF." (Sources: IMF Defers Decision To Expel Zimbabwe/The Associated Press; Zimbabwe's President Arrives In Cuba, Criticizes IMF/AP; IMF defers move to expel Zimbabwe/British Broadcasting Corporation; Mugabe attacks 'unhelpful' IMF/BBC; Zimbabwe hails IMF decision to postpone expulsion/Reuters)
