Further reference is made to your letter dated 12 June 2008 seeking to clarify your earlier letter, in which you allowed very few Non-Governmental Organizations to carry out food distribution mostly to persons with certain medical conditions and supplementary feeding programs for children.
On the 21st of July 2008, the three parties in the SADC dialogue signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which among other things addressed the humanitarian crisis under section 10.1 (d), as follows;
“The parties agree that, in the interim, they will work together to ensure the safety of any displaced persons and their safe return home and that humanitarian and social welfare organizations are enabled to render such assistance as might be required.”
Further to the MoU, the humanitarian crisis was jointly addressed in a statement released on 6 August 2008, as follows;
“The Parties express their readiness to work individually and together in the ongoing Dialogue to make public undertakings in ensuring the safety of any displaced persons and their safe return home and to enable humanitarian and social welfare organizations to render such assistance as might be required”
The effect of the MoU and the joint statement signed by all parties was obviously understood to mean your letter banning NGOs from providing food aid associated relief was immediately revoked.
Sadly, the NGOs are still unable to distribute food in the country as they believe that in the absence of a letter countermanding your instruction, the ban on the activities still stands.
We certainly appreciate their position in view of the fact that these NGOs are not part of the MoU and the subsequent joint statement that were signed.
The situation in the country is now critical. We are receiving reports of rampant starvation throughout the country. If the situation continues unaddressed, death will occur.
In these circumstances, I appeal to you to immediately address a letter to all NGOs unequivocally countermanding your instruction, to allow urgently needed humanitarian work to be carried out in the country.
Such a letter is obviously within the spirit of the MoU, our joint statement and indeed in the interest of every Zimbabwean.
Yours sincerely,
Morgan Tsvangirai
MDC President
Cc President Thabo Mbeki
Parties to the MoU- Zanu-PF and MDC-M
SADC Heads of Government
United Nations
Care International
Christian Care
USAID
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
World Vision
Action Aid