Mugabe promises voters food
2005-11-25 11:07
Special Report
A classical music presenter for the BBC has been arrested and is in custody in Zimbabwe.
Harare - Villagers in southern Zimbabwe are set to receive more grain inflows, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said as he wound up a campaign trail ahead of this weekend's controversial senate elections, the Herald newspaper reported on Friday.
Mugabe's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party has focused its campaign for the senate polls on the southern Matabeleland provinces, which are traditional strongholds of the opposition.
"We are concerned to know how people are managing in these difficult circumstances in terms of food," Mugabe told traditional leaders and civil servants on Thursday in drought-hit Insiza.
"I would like to assure you that we will continue to get food and distribute it to the most critical areas first," the Herald quoted him as saying.
Authorities in Zimbabwe admitted that at least 2.9 million people would need food aid this season following an assessment by the local Vulnerability Assessment Committee.
The United Nations's World Food Programme (WFP) however says the figure will be at least 3.4 million.
Mugabe also handed out 100 computers to schools in the province and promised another 100 early next year.
Analysts predict that voter turnout on Saturday will be very low as most Zimbabweans are preoccupied with finding food and other basic commodities amid shortages and galloping prices.
This is the second round of national polls this year following parliamentary elections in March won by Zanu-PF.
The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is unlikely to make much of a showing on Saturday. Following squabbles over whether or not it should boycott the polls, it only fielded 26 candidates for the 50 contested seats.
The senate polls may be the last the 81-year old Mugabe will preside over. He has said he will not stand for re-election in 2008. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA