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Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Aid clash - Zanu insists on distributing food aid from donors

HARARE - The Zanu (PF) regime has clashed with Non Governmental Organisations (NGO)s over the distribution of humanitarian aid, as it insists on them channeling the assistance through its structures for campaigning purposes ahead of the combined presidential and parliamentary elections.

Crisis Coalition, an umbrella of civic organizations has confirmed that the regime has stalled a lot of progress in the distribution of food aid, drugs, clothing and blankets sourced by donor organizations and talks have reached a deadlock. The regime is demanding that all aid should be distributed through its channels, which includes district administrators, local government officials as well as traditional leaders, long known for their blind support and loyalty to Zanu (PF).

"There are problems and many donor organizations are failing to reach out to the needy because of the impasse created by the insistence on the part of government that it should be done through its channels," Jacob Mafume of Crisis Coalition said.

The Zimbabwean also spoke to officials from Christian Care and World Vision, who requested anonymity but confirmed that huge quantities of aid are being held due to the impasse, adding there have already been some violent attacks on their officials by Zanu (PF) activists in the countryside.

"We are being asked to surrender the aid to government and traditional structures and then we follow behind them in the distribution," an official with World Vision said. "This has created a problem and we are unable to carry out the distribution programmes."

The beleaguered Mugabe regime is clutching at straws and leaving no stone unturned in ensuring it sets up strategies for its sustained rigging system, which also thrives largely on vote-buying through food and other forms of aid.

The World Food Programme has said about 6 million Zimbabweans are in dire need of humanitarian assistance and the situation is set to worsen due to the failure of the current agricultural season through excessive rains and the attendant problems associated with Mugabe's chaotic land reform programme.