BULAWAYO
Politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe is disrupting efforts to assess what food aid the country needs to cope with chronic shortages and this year’s poor, relief agencies have said.
The Ecumenical Zimbabwe Network (EZN) and the Cooperation for International Development Solidarity (CIDSE) said they had been unable to reach all parts of the country to assess the food security situation because of violence and the intimidating presence of state security forces.
A shortage of seed and fertiliser hampered planting while erratic rains for most of the farming season have meant yields will be much lower again this year. As a result, international relief agencies will have to step in with food aid. – ZimOnline.
Zimbabwe tops agenda at Africa Commission
The plight of Zimbabweans has been top of the agenda at a meeting of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from across Africa.
The NGOs met on the sidelines of the 43rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), and expressed serious concern over the current human rights situation in Zimbabwe. Lawyer and human rights activist Gabriel Shumba, whose own torture case comes before the Commission this time around, said Zimbabwe had reached a conflict level similar to the Sudan where millions had died.
The NGOs called for the creation of an African Truth and Justice Commission that that would prosecute perpetrators of human rights abuses on the continent. – SW Radio Africa
Mozambique plans take-over as Africa’s breadbasket
MAPUTO
The Mozambican government believes the food crisis in Zimbabwe and internationally could be an opportunity for them to increase production.
The country now boasts hundreds of skilled Zimbabwean white commercial farmers.
Nhaca said he believed Mozambique could seize the opportunity afforded by the crisis to improve production. The challenge, said Agriculture Minister Soares Nhaca, was to ensure producers could respond to the opportunities.
Nhaca said large amounts of fertilisers needed to be imported and put at their disposal. He added that the government was keen to revive the national seed industry. Other measures were the expansion of irrigation projects, increasing the use of animal traction, and mobilising resources for special lines of credit at favourable interest rates for agriculture. – CAJ News
MDC’s Biti stirs up diplomats…
…while China and SA Africa block debate
MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti ruffled feathers in New York this week – sparking a revealing admission from South Africa that the country is now home to five million Zimbabwean refugees, rather than the three to four million usually quoted.
Biti was in the US to meet key members of the United Nations.
Lynn Pascoe, Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs, presented a report from Biti to the Security Council, but South Africa, China, Russia, Libya and Vietnam blocked discussion or action on Zimbabwe.
Speaking to the media, Biti called for the despatch of a UN envoy or fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabwe is basically a war zone; militias have been deployed in every district,” he told reporters. “Systematic violence is being unleashed by the state against the people. In every district, torture camps have been set up.”
Zimbabwe’s UN Ambassador, Boniface Chidyausiku, dismissed the opposition charges as “bullshit”
South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo said: “South Africa is a mediator appointed by the (southern African) region (in Zimbabwe). We are hosting up to five million Zimbabwean refugees without asking anybody to help us take care of them.
“Zimbabwe is not on the agenda of the Security Council,” he stressed.
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