AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - “Feed the people,” the Bishops say, while the accord on sharing powers remains in a deadlock

Harare (Agenzia Fides) – While the accord for sharing powers in Zimbabwe remains at a standstill because no agreement is reached as to the appointment of Ministers, the Catholic Church is warning as to the grave conditions in which the majority of the country’s population is living.
““One of the immediate challenges is getting food to people. There is a great need to provide basic food aid as people are coping with a bad harvest and, of course, the country's dire economic situation,” the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, Fr. Frederick Chiromba said, according to Independent Catholic News.
The health situation is also fairly dramatic. According to Fr. Chiromba, “there are also no medicines in the hospitals, doctors do not even have aspirins to give out and there is the situation of the three million or so Zimbabweans living in neighboring countries.”
The accord on the division of powers, signed on September 15 (see Fides 12 and 16 of September 2008) calls for the formation of a government of national unity formed by the party of President Robert Mugabe and that of Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change who has been appointed Prime Minister, and the MDC faction group led by Arthur Mutambara.
The accord says that the three leaders should agree on how to divide the ministers. Howeverm there has still not been a list made of ministers, due to large disputes in the appointment of key ministers such as Defense, Internal Affairs, Information, and Finances.
The resignation of South African President Thabo Mbeki, who has played the main role in the mediation effort, has brought back uncertainty as to the reconciliation process in Zimbabwe. Those involved and the representatives of the United Nations who are assisting in the talks had trusted in the intervention of the former South African President in overcoming the difficulties. Mbeki had also made a commitment to encourage the South African Development Community (SADC) to intervene in helping Zimbabwe to overcome the food crises. Now that Mbeki is no longer leader of the most important country in the region, there is a risk that there will no longer be a decisive push in placing this aid plan in action. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 22/9/2008)