Associated Press Worldstream

May 31, 2002

Zimbabwe turns away U.S. food consignment

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, facing severe food shortages, turned away a U.S. donation of
10,000 tons of corn because it was not certified as free from genetic
modification, U.S. officials said Friday.

The food was diverted instead to neighboring Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi,
the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

"Zimbabwe did not waive its requirement that entering commodities must be
certified as entirely non-GMO," or not of genetically modified origin, the
embassy said. Another 8,500 tons of food valued at nearly dlrs 5 million
was being delivered in response to the southern African country's growing
food crisis, the embassy said. About 34,400 tons of U.S. food aid has
already been provided, the statement said.

"Zimbabwe will need to implement economic reforms if it is to address the
larger food crisis," it said.

The U.S.-funded Famine Early Warning System Network estimates nearly one
fourth of Zimbabwe's 12.5 million people are currently facing hunger.

The World Food Program estimates half the population will need food aid to
avert starvation this year.

The agriculture-based economy is facing its worst crisis since independence.

Severe food shortages have been caused by erratic rains and farm
disruptions in a government program to nationalize 95 percent of
white-owned farms.

Harvests of the corn are forecast at less than half of last year's crop and
the country will need to import at least 1.5 million tons of cereals.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has accused the government of
using emergency food as a political weapon by denying aid to the hungry in
opposition strongholds.

U.S. officials said American-supplied food was being distributed through
the World Food Program and independent charities led by World Vision
International.

"These programs are conducted on a nonpartisan basis. Attempts to use U.S.
food aid for partisan political purposes would jeopardize the food relief
effort," the embassy said.