MDC Sets Its Sights On The UN
A Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Community (ZimVAC) interim report that claims that opposition controlled areas in Matabeleland South do not need urgent food assistance has sparked fierce accusations that the government is politicising operations of aid agencies. ZimVAC comprises the government, United Nations (UN) agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and it carries out hunger vulnerability assessments in the country. But its latest report was mainly compiled by government officers in August following the ban on the operations of non-governmental organisations in June on accusations that they supported the opposition. The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development reportedly sent a circular to all non-governmental organisations ordering them to prioritise most food insecure districts as identified by ZimVAC. According to the ZimVAC interim assessment report, Bulilima, Mangwe and Matobo are excluded from the districts that need urgent food assistance despite reports that villagers are now surviving on tree leaves, roots and fruits. Coincidentally all the three districts are controlled by the Professor Arthur Mutambara led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Zanu PF-controlled Beitbridge, Insiza and some parts of Gwanda are identified as the most food insecure. Umzingwane is the only MDC- controlled district that falls in the same category.
“There is no way that they can say Plumtree has enough food,” complained Bulilima East MP, Norman Mpofu. “I have serious cases in Bulilima of people who are on the brink of starvation and the NGOs that normally come to their rescue are saying they cannot assist because they are guided by the ZimVAC report.” He said it was curious that almost all the districts that were classified as food secure were in the hands of the opposition. The whole of Matabeleland South was in 2006 declared a disaster area following successive droughts and aid agencies say the situation has since worsened due to a combination of factors. “The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) is selling a 50kg of bag for $280 000 and in addition to that villagers hire private transporters as fleets from government departments such as DDF are grounded,” Mpofu said. “Without the donors, people are going to starve to death. “We also feel there is a political hand in this report because the benefiting districts have Zanu PF MPs and those who don’t were left out.” Matabeleland South governor, Angelina Masuku was not available for comment as she was said to be away on an outreach programme. Aid agencies say the suspension of field operations by the government delayed the implementation of food assistance programmes that would have provided food aid to an estimated two million people.
A Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Community (ZimVAC) interim report that claims that opposition controlled areas in Matabeleland South do not need urgent food assistance has sparked fierce accusations that the government is politicising operations of aid agencies. ZimVAC comprises the government, United Nations (UN) agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and it carries out hunger vulnerability assessments in the country. But its latest report was mainly compiled by government officers in August following the ban on the operations of non-governmental organisations in June on accusations that they supported the opposition. The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development reportedly sent a circular to all non-governmental organisations ordering them to prioritise most food insecure districts as identified by ZimVAC. According to the ZimVAC interim assessment report, Bulilima, Mangwe and Matobo are excluded from the districts that need urgent food assistance despite reports that villagers are now surviving on tree leaves, roots and fruits. Coincidentally all the three districts are controlled by the Professor Arthur Mutambara led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Zanu PF-controlled Beitbridge, Insiza and some parts of Gwanda are identified as the most food insecure. Umzingwane is the only MDC- controlled district that falls in the same category.
“There is no way that they can say Plumtree has enough food,” complained Bulilima East MP, Norman Mpofu. “I have serious cases in Bulilima of people who are on the brink of starvation and the NGOs that normally come to their rescue are saying they cannot assist because they are guided by the ZimVAC report.” He said it was curious that almost all the districts that were classified as food secure were in the hands of the opposition. The whole of Matabeleland South was in 2006 declared a disaster area following successive droughts and aid agencies say the situation has since worsened due to a combination of factors. “The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) is selling a 50kg of bag for $280 000 and in addition to that villagers hire private transporters as fleets from government departments such as DDF are grounded,” Mpofu said. “Without the donors, people are going to starve to death. “We also feel there is a political hand in this report because the benefiting districts have Zanu PF MPs and those who don’t were left out.” Matabeleland South governor, Angelina Masuku was not available for comment as she was said to be away on an outreach programme. Aid agencies say the suspension of field operations by the government delayed the implementation of food assistance programmes that would have provided food aid to an estimated two million people.
(Source)
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