The U.N. World Food Program has begun distributing emergency food rations to 40,000 Zimbabweans in response to massive food shortages. The U.N. agency says it eventually hopes to feed 500,000 people in Zimbabwe.

The country's food production has fallen dramatically in the past year because of the government's controversial program to seize prime land without compensation. Most of best farmland belongs to Zimbabwe's white landowners.

President Robert Mugabe has drawn international criticism for the land reform policies as well as for the ongoing government harassment of opposition activists.

The European Union and the United States have also expressed concern that the Zimbabwean government will not stage a free and fair presidential election when Mr. Mugabe seeks reelection in March.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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