Zimbabwe Rejects $10 Million U.S. Aid - May 31, 2002

Despite severe food shortages in Zimbabwe, the government of the country has rejected a $10 million aid package from the United States because it lacked a certificate of non-genetically modified corn. The U.S. Embassy in Harare announced in a statement that the corn shipment would be sent to Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique. The statement also mentioned that the U.S. government and the World Food Organization, affiliated with the United Nations, would provide an additional 8,000 tons of food aid to the most needy citizens of Zimbabwe. It was also stated that food should be distributed regardless of political affiliations. Opposition parties have accused the government of using international aid as a political tool by depriving supporters of opposition parties from receiving food assistance. The opposition also stated that agricultural yields in Zimbabwe have been declining since President Mugabe began his program of seizing white-owned farms two years ago. According to estimates from aid organizations, nearly 3 million people, or 25 percent of Zimbabwe's population, are facing severe food shortages. The Zimbabwean government claims that bad weather conditions have led to reduced agricultural yields and food shortages.