Some progress has finally been reported by the South Africa Council of Churches (SACC) regarding the shipment of blankets they donated to help victims of Operation Murambatsvina. On Tuesday Zimbabwean officials waived the surcharge they were demanding in order to release the blankets from a bonded warehouse in Harare. This is at least a month after the consignment with the blankets and tonnes of food were sent to Zimbabwe by the SACC. Church officials hope this is a sign that the food will at last be cleared as well.

Understandably, the churches had refused to pay duty on the donated shipment. Ron Steele, who has been acting as spokesman for the churches, said the two trucks with food for the displaced families living in camps are still in Johannesburg waiting for clearance. He hopes the food will be cleared soon so it can arrive in Zimbabwe within the next couple of days.

As for what caused such a long delay in processing donated goods, Steele said although there were standard procedures that had to be followed, the lengthy delay was rather unwarranted since the food was for desperate Zimbabweans they had met and wanted to help. He said the South African people had been amazing in responding to a call for donations to assist victims of Murambatsvina. However he would not be drawn into a speculative political discussion about Zimbabwean officials. He simply said the churches want to help some more because it is their duty.