Posted on 07/24/2004 4:19:08 AM PDT by Clive
HARARE - The World Food Programme (WFP) has asked the Zambian government to put aside a reserve of 100 000 tonnes of maize to be bought by the WFP for Zimbabwe if need be.
Zim Online has established that despite repeated claims by President Robert Mugabe and his government that their country had a bumper harvest, the WFP has resolved to proceed with efforts to provide aid to assist Zimbabweans who will face starvation.
The United Nations recently said that 2.5 million Zimbabweans will require food aid. An WFP agent last week held talks with Zambia's Ministry of Agriculture requesting the reserve. Zambian agriculture minister, Mundia Sikatana confirmed to Zim Online that WFP officals had asked Lusaka to reserve some of its surplus maize for Zimbabwe and three other Southern African countries, Angola, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"We met an WFP official last week who requested that we consider reserving 100,000 tonnes of maize for our neighbours in Zimbabwe. We are still considering the request and will give a position to the WFP," Sikatana said.. The WFP office in Harare said in response to Zim Online enquiries that it would release a statement soon on the situation in Zimbabwe in regard to humanitarian assistance and its plans in view of government's claims that there was enough food.
Mike Huggins, WFP's Southern Africa regional public affairs officer, recently said the WFP was currently providing food aid to 700,000 Zimbabweans in both rural and urban areas through a targeted assistance programme.
Surveys by independent bodies including the Southern African Crop Assessment Programme and the locally based Zimconsult indicate that Zimbabwe will require food aid to see the country through to the next harvest beginning around March next year.
Mugabe maintains the country has more than enough food and has repeatedly told food relief agencies to take their aid elsewhere.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accuses Mugabe and his ruling ZANU PF party of wanting donors out of Zimbabwe so they can monopolise food aid distribution for political gain. ZANU PF, which in the past has been accused of using food to buy political support, denies the charge.
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It's tempting to say, "No way, they don't deserve it." But that would punish the people for the evils of their leader. But then again, maybe that's what it would take to spark a revolt.
No easy answers.
Rhodesia exported food to the rest of Africa...
How else conduct the genocide of his enemies under the cover of 'unforseeable circumstance'?
Socialism is a one-way street, with mass exterminations awaiting at the approaching dead-end.
Clive, any one know of the number of these farmers ?
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