Humanitarian crisis worsens

UN humanitarian coordinator in Zimbabwe Elizabeth Lwanga appealed to the international world to assist the troubled country, saying last years appeal for US$722 million for humanitarian aid most of which was for food assistance had received relatively successful response. Unfortunately, in 2010 we have so far been confronted with serious cuts in funding. As of today, the CAP (Consolidated Appeal Process) is funded at 26 per cent, an all-time low in the history of CAP in Zimbabwe, she said, adding; It is clear that humanitarian assistance is still urgently required.

Last year President Robert Mugabe formed a power-sharing government with his foe, now Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, after a disputed election. The fragile coalition has stabilised the economy but has failed to attract foreign funding to support economic recovery due to power-sharing disputes between the two leaders, with Mugabe being accused of resisting full implementation of the global political agreement that gave birth to the unity administration.

A joint government and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) crop assessment report released last month urged Harare to start emergency food relief programmes to areas that have been affected by drought, while 500 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize should be set aside annually to mitigate any food deficits.

The joint report follows projections that up to 11per cent, or 200 000 hectares, of this years maize crop in the southern African country was a total write-off. Zimbabwe has grappled with severe food shortages over the past decade after Mugabe disrupted the key agriculture sector through his chaotic and often violent land reform programme.

The farm seizures reduced agricultural production by 60 per cent resulting in most Zimbabweans depending on food handouts from international food relief agencies. But Mugabe denies that his land reforms that he says were necessary to ensure blacks also had access to arable land that they were denied by previous white-led governments triggered the food shortages blaming the crisis on drought and economic sabotage by his Western enemies that he says crippled the economys capacity to produce key inputs such as seed and fertilizers.