Posted on 08/03/2002 2:37:52 AM PDT by Clive
NON-governmental organisations (NGOs) licensed to import food have lashed out at government's restrictive importing conditions which they say are hampering full private-sector participation to stave off the worsening crisis.
NGOs are requesting government to streamline the bureaucratic processes to avoid delays in shipments. Government has set a ceiling above which NGOs cannot import, a ruling being challenged by the donor organisations.
According to the latest UN report, Humanitarian Situation in Southern Africa, food inflows into Zimbabwe have not improved because of the conditions imposed by government, this despite the entry of private players in the exercise.
"The current food crisis is exacerbated by the monopoly on cereal importation, price and foreign exchange controls which has led to the inability of the market to provide adequate food to those with the resources to purchase their requirements," the report says.
"While government has now taken steps to open the import market to private sector involvement, it is unclear if at this late stage there will be adequate forex to import at a level to satisfy the increasing demand. Moreover logistical constraints might considerably delay importation via private channels," the report says.
Private players who obtained import permits said government was stipulating tonnage permit ceilings for a month, a move which hindered NGOs' potential to feed as many hunger- stricken people as they could.
Oxfam, for example, has been granted a permit to import a maximum of 10 000 tonnes of food per month.
USAid's assistant administrator Roger Winter, recently in the country to assess the food situation, said the number of aid- dependent people was projected to rise to about nine million by September.
"The food crisis in Zimbabwe falls in the same category with Angola and Sudan," Winter said.
"Serious impact should start showing by September and the number of people in need of humanitarian aid would be in excess of 500% of those on support now."
Holy moly!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.