The decision by the government of Zimbabwe to suspend all field work by humanitarian agencies has provoked strong condemnation.
‘The use of food as a political weapon is very cruel,’ said Useni Sibanda, of the Zimbabwe Christian Council (ZCA), a Christian Aid partner organisation.
Some four million people in Zimbabwe are dependent on food aid. Close to two million people are living with HIV. A Zimbabwean male has a life expectancy of 37, a woman just 34.
‘We have hunger here and things are just getting worse,’ continued Rev Sibanda. ‘The most vulnerable will be the most affected. There is a general food shortage, there is no food in the stores and these people have no alternative – they are totally dependent on the humanitarian agencies.’
Through partner organisations Christian Aid helps some 40,000 people in Zimbabwe. Programmes include home based care for people living with HIV, drought recovery programmes in the arid Matebele region and food distributions.
Christian Aid also works with people who lost their homes and businesses in Operation Murambatsvina in 2005 in which 700,000 people lost their homes.
The security situation is deteriorating fast. A number of lawyers working for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have fled the country and opposition activists have been beaten and, in some cases, murdered.
There is also deep unease about the presidential run-off election scheduled for June 27.
‘With these conditions there is no way we can have a free and fair election,’ said Rev Sibanda. He is also fearful the government may attempt to block people from reaching polling stations.
‘This is not just about food; it is a desperate attempt by the regime to win the election.’