DATE=9/25/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ZIMBABWE / FOOD (L-O)

NUMBER=2-307901

BYLINE=TENDAI MAPHOSA

DATELINE=HARARE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT

INTRO: The government of Zimbabwe Thursday agreed to allow the World Food Program and its affiliates manage the distribution of food aid. Harare had earlier decreed all food distribution would be handled by pro-government local authorities, which led to protests from the donor community. More from Tendai Maphosa in Harare.

TEXT: The recent decree issued by President Robert Mugabe's government would have put local authorities in charge of deciding who gets emergency food and who doesn't. However, food donors raised strong objections, arguing that this would upset the established practice of having independent groups distribute food and would, in addition, politicize the process.

A W-F-P official who spoke to V-O-A on condition of anonymity said the U-N agency had agreed with the government that food would be distributed solely on the basis of need, irrespective of political, racial, tribal or religious affiliation.

The official said that the W-F-P would continue working with the non-governmental groups they had been working with in the past.

The agreement affects only the W-F-P and its affiliates, and it is unclear how other donor groups involved in food aid would be affected. Government officials were unavailable for comment.

According to the latest estimates, more than five million Zimbabweans will need food aid this year. Poor harvests and President Mugabe's controversial land reform program are being blamed for Zimbabwe's dire shortage of food. (SIGNED)

NEB/TM/MAR/KL/RH