Growing food in towns banned ……… vg 21/06/05

Police today delivered another huge blow to the already suffering people who live in urban areas. State radio reported that the police will no longer allow people living in cities to grow their own crops.

At least 6million people, nearly half the population of Zimbabwe, face starvation and many households who survive on what they grow at home will be seriously affected.

Authorities have said members of the public are no longer allowed to practice urban agriculture as this has a devastating effect on the environment. But over the years city dwellers have been forced to grow their own crops like maize on (kumunda) pieces of land as a result of soaring food prices.

A woman told Newsreel that government is deliberately trying to make life difficult for people living in towns as punishment for allegedly voting for the opposition MDC. She said food is scarce in the shops and this ban will effectively worsen the situation.

The woman also accused the government of trying to reinvent some of the oppressive policies that Ian Smith used to implement.