U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Southern Africa

Tel: +27 11 880 4633
Fax: +27 11 880 1421
e-mail: irin-sa@irin.org.za


SOUTHERN AFRICA
IRIN-SA Weekly Round-Up 155
26 May - 1 June 2007


CONTENTS:

ZIMBABWE: Food aid welcome, if crisis blamed on drought
ZIMBABWE: Pro-government militias launch intimidation campaign against
   Catholics
SOUTHERN AFRICA: IMF policies may impact on education quality
BOTSWANA: Stigma deprives orphans of aid


ZIMBABWE: Food aid welcome, if crisis blamed on drought

The Zimbabwean government has acknowledged it is facing a severe food 
crisis and has welcomed food aid - so long as no "political strings" are 
attached.  A joint Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and World 
Food Programme (WFP) team was invited to asses the food security 
situation in Zimbabwe late last month after President Robert Mugabe's 
ZANU-PF government declared 2007 a drought year.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72488


ZIMBABWE: Pro-government militias launch intimidation campaign against 
Catholics

Ruling ZANU-PF militia, comprising youths and veterans of Zimbabwe's war 
of independence, are intimidating church members in rural areas in a bid 
to stop the distribution of a pastoral letter denouncing President 
Robert Mugabe's government, human rights groups claim.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72458


SOUTHERN AFRICA: IMF policies may impact on education quality

International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies which require many poor 
countries to freeze recruitment of teachers in an attempt to curb 
spending is impacting on the quality of education, says a new report.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72457


BOTSWANA: Stigma deprives orphans of aid

The stigma of being labelled poor is inhibiting struggling foster 
families in Botswana, who are looking after already vulnerable children, 
from accessing welfare, a new study has found. The study, which focused 
on the plight of orphans and vulnerable children in Palapye, one of the 
largest villages in Botswana, located 275km north of the capital, 
Gaborone, found government assistance was "crippled" by the reluctance 
of families to register children for state aid.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72433


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