Zimbabwe is preparing to hold a presidential run-off between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who won the March 29 poll but without the majority needed to avoid a second ballot. The run-off is scheduled for June 27.
CARE, which employs some 300 people in the economically devastated nation, denied that its staff had been engaged in any political activity, including supporting Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change.
“CARE has strict policies against political involvement and categorically denies the organisation has encouraged or tolerated any political activity,” Ken Walker, the group’s Africa communications manager, said, confirming the suspension.
Walker said the group had planned to begin a food programme in Zimbabwe, which is suffering chronic food shortages in the wake of the collapse of its once prosperous agricultural sector. He said it had requested further details on the suspension.
Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche refused to confirm or deny that CARE had been forced to stop its activities. He also would not comment on reports other relief groups had also been ordered to stop their work in the country.
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