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Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean gov't warns NGOs to stay away from politics

HARARE, Oct 17, 2007 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Zimbabwe's Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche warned non-governmental organizations on Wednesday to stay away from the country's politics, according to local media New Ziana.

He said the government would not hesitate to cancel licenses of NGOs that meddle in the country's internal affairs.

"Government has put in place a framework to ensure that no Private Voluntary Organization gets out of its mandate and do things not agreed upon,"he said."Do not delve into the internal politics of the country as that is for the people of Zimbabwe."

He was speaking soon after his ministry signed an agreement with Mercy Corps, an international private voluntary organization.

The agreement formalizes the operations of the organization in the country, which has been working with a temporary license since 2002.

The agreement signed requires Mercy Corps to implement its programs in collaboration with the government.

Among other things, the agreement also stresses the need for the organization "to pursue only their registered objectives and not digress from the pursuit of such."

The minister said PVOs play an important role in complementing government in the provision of social services since it was the primary role of government to provide social services to people.

Mercy Corps country director, Robert Maroni, said the organization was mainly involved in food relief services with plans underway to expand into health related programs.

Programs the NGO specializes in include feeding schemes in drought areas, provision of agricultural inputs and other related services.