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Zimbabwe's new humanitarian tsar

Thokozani Khupe, Deputy prime minister MDC
    HARARE

    Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has appointed his deputy premier, Thokozani Khupe, to the new post of humanitarian coordinator in the Office of the Prime Minister to help tackle the country's humanitarian crisis.



    In his maiden address to parliament on 4 March, Tsvangirai said: "[Khupe] will liaise with all stakeholders in order to complement the ongoing efforts, and ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness of our humanitarian response."



    An estimated two-thirds of Zimbabweans - 7 million people - are dependent on food aid; a cholera emergency has killed close to 4,000 people and infected 87,000; social services are in disarray; and hyperinflation has rendered the local dollar worthless, forcing the adoption of foreign currency for formal transactions.



    Khupe is already on a nationwide tour of hospitals to assess their needs.



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    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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