DA international relations spokesman Ian Davidson said in a statement that he had written to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan asking that any funding to Zimbabwe have conditions aimed at helping the country reach peaceful political transition.

"In particular, we cannot provide funding to Zimbabwe if [an] agreement is not reached on a new... constitution, or if an election before the new constitution has been finalised and agreed by all relevant parties," Davidson said.

The DA was concerned that the money would be used for political campaigning and to fund Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe's militia, rather than for the benefit of the Zimbabwean public.

"We will also recommend that the funding is given on a ring-fenced basis for specific projects and not as a blank cheque for Mugabe."