Falling revenue from decreasing diamond sales has left Zimbabwe all but bankrupt, and now officials are asking donors to bankroll democratic reform.
Zimbabwean Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, told SBS he and the Minister of Finance have already written to the United Nations Development Programme for support to run the referendum and elections.
But Zimbabwean Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur Mutambara, says borrowing from the private sector and paying them back through taxes will be the biggest challenge.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"We are saying to the private sector, 'This is your country. Political stability is in your interest'," he told SBS.
Western Sanctions, triggered by alleged human rights abuses, have been blamed for Zimbabwe's dwindling cash flow but diamond industry critic and activist, Farai Maguwu says certain individuals are to blame.
"What belongs to the state is going to individuals and is going to political parties and there is nothing for the treasury," Maguwu said.
Zimbabwe's treasury was predicted to gain $600 million from their mining operations in 2012, but only collected $136 million.
