EU slams politicisation of food aid

The European Union (EU) this week accused Zimbabwe's ruling party of using food aid as a political weapon against opposition supporters. Bertel Haarder, European affairs minister of Denmark which holds the EU presidency, told Reuters: "They use our aid as a tool in the domestic fight against the opposition in order to survive and that is not acceptable." Haarder's comments followed a two-day meeting between top EU officials and their counterparts from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) in Mozambique. The meeting was reportedly dominated by the political crisis in Zimbabwe and widespread regional food shortages. More than 14 million people are in need of emergency food aid in six southern African countries, with six million people affected in Zimbabwe alone. While the government has attributed the food crisis to a crippling drought, observers say the government's fast-track land programme has exacerbated the problem. At the close of the meeting on Friday the EU said in a statement that it would work with local NGOs and other donors to draw up guidelines for the distribution of food aid to the region to avoid political abuse. The EU, however, failed to broker an agreement with African leaders on how to deal with the crisis in Zimbabwe. "We have had a robust debate, but we have no agreement on the subject [of Zimbabwe]. But from the European side, we have strongly emphasised good governance, security and peace. Clearly, we have Zimbabwe in mind, because what is happening there is not acceptable. We need that to be sorted out," Haarder told reporters. Since the start of Zimbabwe's troubles, southern African leaders have been reluctant to reproach President Robert Mugabe, and have opposed sanctions as a possible solution to the political crisis. "Bashing Zimbabwe all the time does not help. Sometimes it gives people the perception that indeed Zimbabwe has been bullied," Malawi Deputy Foreign Minister Chimunthu Banda was quoted as saying at the meeting in Maputo. Analysts have suggested that deep divisions between African countries and the West over tougher measures against Zimbabwe had inadvertently hampered efforts to help ease the political imbroglio in the country. The EU slapped sanctions on Mugabe's government after a March presidential election considered illegitimate by the West, but endorsed by most African countries. EU representatives in Maputo also reacted strongly to suggestions from the Zimbabwean leadership that Europe and Britain should compensate white farmers for their expropriated land, saying the "reforms were conducted with minimum respect for the rule of law". Mugabe has said that the farm seizures were the only way to ensure that landless blacks could tackle their poverty. Despite not having reached a deal with African ministers over Zimbabwe, the EU pledged Euro 101 million (US $101 million) in assistance towards eradicating poverty in the region. The funds are expected to bolster regional economic integration among SADC member states and improve transport and communication infrastructure. In a related development, two more British-based charities were banned from operating in Zimbabwe, news agencies reported on Friday. The charities were the Westminster Foundation and the Zimbabwe Democracy Trust. Harare has in the past accused NGOs of colluding with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in a plot to overthrow the government. Last month the government ordered Oxfam and Save the Childrens Fund to suspend their operations. Both charities are awaiting government approval to continue with their food delivery programmes.