|
U.N. Begins Food Distribution In Zimbabwe VOA News 21 Feb 2002 15:13 UTC 
The U.N. World Food Program has begun distributing emergency food rations to 40-thousand Zimbabweans in response to massive food shortages. The U.N. agency says (Thursday) it eventually hopes to feed 500-thousand 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.
|