Zim, UN discuss dire food needs
2005-05-27 09:09
Blantyre - United Nations (UN) envoy for humanitarian needs James Morris said on Thursday the Zimbabwean government supported the work of the UN's food agency and was "working hard to see food is available".
Speaking in neighbouring Malawi, which the envoy is visiting as part of a five-nation tour of southern Africa, Morris said he would go to Zimbabwe on a similar mission to "find out what the needs are, what plans they have of their own and what they want us to do".
Reports have said President Robert Mugabe was ready to meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special representative to discuss the food situation in his drought-stricken nation but not accept aid with any strings attached.
Harare was "supportive of our work... My sense is that the Zimbabwe government is working hard to see food is available", said Morris, adding he would not travel to Zimbabwe "for political reasons".
Focusing on humanitarian issues
"We will be narrowly focused on humanitarian issues... our job is to see that people don't starve, we leave politics to others," said Morris, who is also the UN World Food Programme's director.
Mugabe's government blames drought for food shortages, which have worsened in the aftermath of the March 30 parliamentary elections, but critics blame his policies including the controversial seizures of white-owned farms which they say have hit output.
Despite the looming shortages, the government last year turned away donors claiming it would produce a bumper harvest and has so far not appealed for aid.
But Harare last month announced it would soon take delivery of some 1.2 tons of imported corn to augment stocks.
Morris is to meet Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika in the administrative capital Lilongwe on Friday.
"We will simply talk about our work, our good working relationship and how the problem of hunger is going to be addressed."
"This place (Malawi) will have a food shortage and we want to see how the UN will do its share and so the government," said Morris.
Malawi has a grain shortage of around 24% this year, according to government officials.