Zimbabwe turns away US food aid

Crops have failed across the country

United States officials say Zimbabwe has rejected a donation of 10,000 tons of corn because it was not certified as free from genetic modifications.

Zimbabwe did not waive its requirement that entering commodities must be certified not of genetically modified origin.

US Embassy in Harare

Zimbabwe, together with six other countries in southern Africa, is facing severe food shortages caused by erratic rains and floods.

The US embassy in Harare says the food was diverted to neighbouring Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi, where millions are faced with starvation.

Aids agencies say that nearly a quarter of Zimbabwe's 12.5 million people are currently in need of food.

UN warning

"Zimbabwe did not waive its requirement that entering commodities must be certified not of genetically modified origin, or non-GMO," the US Embassy said in a statement.

It said another 8,500 tons of food valued at nearly US$5 million was being delivered in response to the southern African country's growing food crisis.

About 34,400 tons of US food aid has already been provided, the statement said.

Shops have run out of maize

The food was being distributed through the World Food Programme (WFP)and independent charities led by World Vision International.

The US shipment comes in the wake of this week's UN alert that urgent action is needed in order to avert a humanitarian crisis in southern Africa.

It warned that 10 million people were facing starvation in at least four nations.

The nations were Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland - with the latest additions being Zambia and Mozambique.

Farm disruptions

WFP says half of Zimbabwe¿s population will need food aid to avert starvation this year as the agriculture-based economy faces its worst crisis since independence.

Correspondents say severe food shortages have been caused by erratic rains and floods, but add that disruptions caused by the government's seizure of white-owned farms have played a hand.

The opposition says the government is using food as a political weapon

As a result this, they say, 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, on their part, say the situation is compounded by the government's policy to use food as a political weapon.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says the government is refusing to distribute aid in opposition strongholds.