Zimbabwe: Government Lifts Food Aid Ban

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SW Radio Africa (London)

29 August 2008
Posted to the web 29 August 2008

Violet Gonda

The government has finally said it will lift a ban on food aid and allow humanitarian aid agencies to distribute much needed food in the country.

Fambayi Ngirande, the spokesperson of the National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO), confirmed that the stakeholders were given a press release stating the lifting of the ban. However he warned that people should take this with a 'pinch of salt,' saying there are no indications as to whether the government will remove the structural barriers that were preventing the smooth operations of humanitarian organisations.

Ngirande said the stakeholders have been invited to a meeting on Monday where the government will explain the operational modalities. He added that this is why they are apprehensive because there is no clarity on these 'operational modalities,' given the fact that they are already faced 'with a very limiting operating environment because of excessive legislations and partisan officials.'

The government was accused of politicising the distribution of food aid when it blocked NGO operations in the run-up to the recent controversial elections.

On Friday the Social Welfare Ministry issued a statement saying the government has with immediate effect lifted the suspended operations of 'NGOs involved in humanitarian and food assistance, relief, recovery and development, childcare and protection and rights of people with disabilities.' The Ministry said this included groups involved in HIV/AIDS treatment, care and other support services.

Prior to this, MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai had said the country faced a 'profound humanitarian crisis' if aid programmes were not resumed.

United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee also warned that the country faces a humanitarian disaster because of the continued ban on NGO food aid that has now left millions of Zimbabweans facing starvation.

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