§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures have been taken to ensure that international aid is given to known MDC supporters as well as Zanu-PF supporters. [60408]
§ Clare ShortWe are doing all we can to try to prevent humanitarian relief being misused for political purposes in Zimbabwe. Programmes are operating in a number of areas badly affected by food shortages that could be described as both MDC and Zanu-PF dominated. Beneficiaries are selected on the basis of their vulnerability not their political views. All programmes are delivered by non-government organisations. Selection is undertaken at the grass roots level either by NGOs alone, or in local disaster committees including ward councillors and traditional headmen together with the NGOs. All claims that vulnerable people have been excluded from receiving assistance are investigated, whether they are from Zanu-PF or MDC supporters.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates she has made of the number of children who have been moved from primary schools in Zimbabwe. [60171]
§ Clare ShortZimbabwe has a good record in primary school access. Between 1979 and 1996 there was a more than 100 per cent. increase in the numbers of primary schools, and a 102 per cent. expansion in enrolment figures, with 2.49 million children in school. We are concerned that food shortages and economic pressures may be eroding these gains.
DFID has targeted school children in its supplementary feeding programmes. Since September 2001 we have provided one meal a day to over 200,000 primary school children. Monitoring shows that in the areas where our programmes are active, this has helped to increase enrolment.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds the Government have made available to the Zimbabwe Government to implement the land reform programme that complies with the principles established by the September 2001 Commonwealth Abuja Agreement and the 1998 international donors' conference on land reform. [60188]
§ Clare ShortThe Government of Zimbabwe do not have a land reform programme that complies with either its undertakings given in the Abuja Agreement, or the principles agreed at the 1998 International Conference.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development which organisations that assist evicted farm workers' families in Zimbabwe have(a) sought and (b) received assistance from (i) her Department and (ii) through international aid supported by Her Majesty's Government. [60170]
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§ Clare ShortI will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates she has made of the extent to which the reported famine in Zimbabwe results(a) from natural causes and (b) from disruption of agriculture. [60172]
§ Clare ShortIt is clear that drought has played a large part in the failure of the maize harvest this year. However, the Government of Zimbabwe's policy failures in mishandling food markets; agricultural prices; the exchange rate; and the chaotic land reform programme have also been much to blame, and continue to make matters worse. While it is not possible to attribute between causes with any accuracy, the UNDP estimate that maize production may have been 30 to 60 per cent. affected by land reform alone. The expected drop of at least 60 per cent. in wheat planting this season is almost entirely attributable to disruption of commercial farming activities and state control of prices and markets.