Millions face hunger as government bans 30 humanitarian groups
By Tererai Karimakwenda
June 04, 2008

A group of about 30 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have suspended their programmes in Zimbabwe after their representatives were summoned by government last Friday and Monday, and ordered to stop all operations until further notice. The government accused these humanitarian organisations of working with the MDC and of politicising their resources. Millions of Zimbabweans rely on the critical services provided by these groups, particularly the vulnerable orphans, the elderly and those who are sick. The government has no resources to replace the suspended programmes and it is widely believed that the allegations are an excuse for the ruling party to seize control of basic commodities, and use them to force voters to support Robert Mugabe in the presidential runoff on June 27th.

The groups that were summoned include CARE, which is one of the largest that is still operating in the harsh, politicised environment created by the Mugabe regime. Kenneth Walker, the Africa Communications Manager for CARE, said the group was summoned by the Ministry of Social Welfare last Friday and informed they were to stop operating pending an investigation into allegations of political activity. Walker said they were accused of passing out brochures for the MDC and threatening to withhold services from recipients unless they supported the opposition party.

Walker explained that they flatly denied the allegations. He said: “We have very, very strict rules against political involvement and every one of our 300 employees in Zimbabwe is aware of those rules. We asked for details of these allegations; names, dates, places, and so far we have received none.”

CARE assists an estimated half a million of the most vulnerable people. The government ban means they will not be allowed to feed the more than 110,000 people per month who rely on its programmes in schools, orphanages and old age homes.

Walker said they also provide HIV/AIDS services, clean water and sanitation, and self-reliance training programmes. Considering that 30 organisations received similar orders, several Zimbabweans no longer have access to food, health care and financial services. The U.N. has estimated that 4 million Zimbabweans rely on food aid.

Ironically, this week Mugabe was himself in the headlines at a UN food conference in Rome. Addressing delegates there, he accused the NGOs of interfering in politics and blamed Western powers for conspiring to cripple Zimbabwe's economy. Earlier that same day 15 students were arrested at Bulawayo Polytechnic College during a demonstration to protest top up fees and serious food shortages. In addition, the shops in Zimbabwe remain empty as a result of the government’s impractical price controls.

Critics say that the government will step in and offer assistance in the meantime, but only to those who support Robert Mugabe. There is consensus that this strategy will not translate into votes for the desperate regime, but it will strengthen opposition supporters’ resolve to change the government.