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Update on the situation in Zimbabwe

5 September 2008

 

Zimbabwe is in a deepening crisis that is rooted in gross economic mismanagement, spiralling hyperinflation, and poor governance. The Mugabe regime presides over an economic and humanitarian disaster in a country that should be a leading force for development in the region.

Lifting of NGO restrictions

It was widely reported on the 29th August that the Government of Zimbabwe had lifted its restrictions on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) engaged in delivering humanitarian assistance. This was long overdue. The UK Government will help NGOs and other partners to re-engage as quickly as possible.

The Government of Zimbabwe’s announcement will need to translate into action. It is clear that there must be no restrictions on NGOs' humanitarian work in the field, and that the 2 million or so people who are most urgently in need must receive the right assistance quickly - irrespective of their political allegiance.

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Economic and political situation

The UK Government is disappointed that Zimbabwe does not yet have the government that its people deserve. We understand why Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) feel unable to accept an agreement that fails to reflect the democratic will of the Zimbabwean people as expressed in March. The international community continues to watch developments in Zimbabwe closely and with concern, not least given the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

The country has had its worst crop in 15 years and has failed to produce sufficient grain to meet the needs of its people. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that up to 5.1 million people may need food aid by the end of the year. In addition, the impact of HIV and AIDS means that families who are already poor and vulnerable are even less able to cope with the effects of the current humanitarian crisis.

Some observers put inflation at around or over the 100 million % mark. The economy, and particularly agricultural production, has shrunk by over 50% since 1996, 80% of the population is unemployed, and gold production is at its lowest level for 90 years. In addition, electricity is severely restricted, blackouts are common and becoming more persistent, while water shortages last for days, sometimes weeks at a time in many areas. With basic food and fuel increasingly difficult to obtain, many turn to the black market in the hope of finding commodities, but its prices are too high for the majority of ordinary Zimbabweans.

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UK support to Zimbabwe's poorest

On 3 July, the UK Government announced £9 million in humanitarian support to the WFP, who will provide food to over 4 million of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable families, including many children.

Whilst the majority of this money will be used to provide food, a proportion of the funding will be used to strengthen monitoring systems to prevent political interference and ensure the food is received by the right people.

Announcing the new funding, the Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, said:

"The ongoing political problems in Zimbabwe should not divert our gaze from the continuing humanitarian disaster. By the end of 2008, up to 5 million men, women and children could be facing severe hunger and malnutrition. That is why this Government is allocating £9 million to provide food to those people most at risk."

The UK has been a major contributor to humanitarian aid in Zimbabwe. Last financial year we provided £45 million worth of humanitarian and livelihoods assistance to Zimbabwe’s most disadvantaged people. This brings the total UK humanitarian contribution to Zimbabwe since 2001 to over £220 million.

The UK, with the international community, stands ready to play its part in supporting Zimbabwe’s recovery when the time is right.

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