Government blocks visit by Zimbabwe bankers

The Government is taking steps to refuse visas to a delegation from the Zimbabwe Reserve Bank.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald today called on the Government to prevent the delegation coming here, saying they would encourage expatriates to send money home to boost the bank's foreign exchange.

However a spokesman for Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Phil Goff said the Government was already taking steps to deny the bankers visas to enter New Zealand.

Mr Donald said Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank had run out of foreign exchange and representatives were in Canada now trying to pressure expatriates to send remittances home to relatives.

They had planned to do the same thing here next week, Mr Donald said.

- NZPA