The Zimbabwean government under President Robert Mugabe has imposed strict restrictions on the aid agencies operating in the country, said state-controlled media reports on Tuesday.
"Government has introduced new reporting mechanisms for private voluntary organizations and non-governmental organizations ... that will see them constantly indicating to the parent ministry their programs, areas and modes of operations," reported the state-controlled media.
According to the new regulations, the humanitarian agencies will have to report the details of their operations, including funding, areas covered and modes of operation, to the government.
The new restrictions come just days after the Zimbabwean government lifted the three-month-old ban it had imposed on non-governmental aid agencies ahead of the presidential run off election.
President Robert Mugabe had imposed the ban, accusing the aid agencies of supporting opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai in the disputed presidential run off election.
The relief agencies denied the allegation and, in turn, accused the Mugabe regime of using food as a political weapon by distributing the much needed aid only among its political activists.
Though no explanation was offered for lifting the ban on aid agencies, it was among the conditions put forward by the opposition during the recent power sharing talks in South Africa.
by RTTNews Staff Writer
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