Unable to travel to Zimbabwe as originally planned, the Elders instead
met political leaders, businessmen, aid workers, donors, UN agencies
and civil society representatives in Johannesburg over the weekend,
many of whom travelled from Zimbabwe to see them. They also held
meetings with leaders of South Africa and Botswana.
While the nature of the problems in Zimbabwe has been well known, their
meetings revealed a sharp deterioration in the crisis recent weeks.
FOOD
Food is the most serious problem. There is not enough to meet immediate
needs and an acute shortage of seed and fertiliser means that April’s
harvest will produce a fraction of what is required. Donor assistance
for the planting season reached only 25 per cent of the poorest rural
smallholders.
The number of people reliant on food aid from UN and other agencies has
increased from 2.6 million in October to 4.9 million in November. Half
the population, 5.1 million people, will need food aid by January.
World Food Programme has already cut back on rations to make stocks
last longer – leaving people with a daily allowance that provides just
under 1500 calories, well below the bare minimum for survival. Without
immediate increases in food availability, malnutrition rates will
inevitably increase sharply.
HEALTH
Four major hospitals, including two in Harare, have closed their doors
to almost all patients for lack of medicine and basic supplies –
including running water. Hundreds of pregnant women needing caesarean
sections or other assistance to give birth safely are being turned
away. Staff numbers are falling as people make the search for food a
priority.
About 15 per cent of the population is infected with HIV. 3,500 die
every week. The AIDS crisis has left almost one in four children
without one or both parents.
EDUCATION
School attendance has fallen sharply from over 85 per cent in 2007 to
just 20 per cent. Universities have not opened at all this term. A
teacher’s monthly salary barely covers a day’s average transport costs.
WATER AND SANITATION
Zimbabwe’s collapsing health and water infrastructure has led to a
major cholera outbreak that now raises the risk of a trans-regional
cholera epidemic.
An estimated 6,300 cholera cases have been recorded in 9 out of 10
provinces in Zimbabwe, with fatality rates far above accepted
international emergency levels of 1 per cent. Cases are already being
recorded in South Africa and other neighbouring countries ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS AND CASH CRISIS Hyperinflation means monthly salaries have
plummeted in value with severe cash shortages making it very difficult
for even those with incomes to buy enough to eat. The government has
recently permitted the use of US dollars in some stores, but this is
leading to a two-tier economy between those who have access to foreign
currency and the majority who do not. Hyperinflation is affecting the
dollarized sector as well.
MASS MIGRATION AND DISPLACEMENT
Zimbabwe’s failing economy and humanitarian disaster has created an
estimated 3 million refugees. The SADC region has ignored this refugee
exodus, refusing to name it as such, which means that many of those who
leave risk arrest and deportation.
IMPASSE ON FORMING A GOVERNMENT
The failure to implement the Global Political Agreement is accelerating
the humanitarian disaster. Without political progress, none of these
issues can be properly addressed.
"We knew when we planned this trip that the situation in Zimbabwe was
serious," said Mr Annan. "What we have learned in the past few days is
shocking. It is not just the extent of Zimbabwe’s humanitarian crisis,
but the speed of deterioration in the past few weeks that is most
worrying. The scale, depth and urgency of the situation are
underreported."
President Carter said: "The signing of the 15 September agreement
raised hopes in Zimbabwe and around the world, but the failure to
implement it in good faith and create a workable power sharing
government is leading to despair and accelerating the crisis.
Regardless of the challenges in implementing the agreement, all parties
should now make the welfare of the people their first priority and put
an end to the unnecessary suffering of millions."
"The state is no longer able to offer basic services", said Dr Machel.
"It can no longer feed, educate or care for its citizens. It is failing
its people."
On leaving South Africa, the Elders will continue to follow events in
Zimbabwe closely and use their influence wherever they can to ensure
that the situation in the country is widely acknowledge