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Position of the South African Government
on the Zimbabwean Government's denying the MDC access
to Food
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO 110
QUESTION TIME: 3 NOVEMBER 2004
MR DHM GIBSON (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
1) Whether her attention has been drawn to the contents
of a recent Amnesty International Report entitled "Zimbabwe:
Power and Hunger - Violations of the Right to Food",
dated 15 October 2004, which warns of serious food insecurity
and hunger in Zimbabwe as a result of the Zimbabwean
government denying access to grain to supporters of
the opposition MDC; if so,
2) Whether her department intends taking steps to encourage
the Zimbabwean government to desist from such practice;
if not, why not; if so, what steps?
N1325E
REPLY:
1. The Minister is aware of the allegations of the
recent Amnesty International report on the humanitarian
crisis in Zimbabwe entitled "Zimbabwe: Power and
Hunger-Violations of the Right to Food", dated
15 October 2004. The Government of Zimbabwe informed
the UN and other international donors that its final
crop assessment for the 2003/2004 season indicated that
it would have enough food for local consumption and
no longer needed food aid. The report states that "International
human rights groups, as well as the organisations involved
in monitoring the food situation in Zimbabwe, believe
the government's claims are part of a strategy to manipulate
people's fear of hunger ahead of the parliamentary elections
scheduled for arch 2005". We will continue to monitor
the situation and if and when we receive concrete evidence
that the Government of Zimbabwe is denying access to
grain supporters of the MDC, we will consider what to
do.
2. Not applicable, as per the reply to 1.
END
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