Zimbabwe threatens aid agencies

The NGOs threatened include Save the Children, World Vision and Care

Zimbabwe's government is threatening 30 non-governmental organisations with prosecution if they do not properly account for $88m by Friday.

State-controlled media cites unnamed sources as saying there are fears that some funds have been channelled to the opposition or sold on the black market.

The money concerned was raised in 2003 after an appeal for food assistance.

The government has repeatedly accused NGOs of interfering in national affairs and supporting the opposition.

Ultimatum

Last year, a law was passed introducing a licence for all NGOs.

Foreign human rights groups were also banned from working in Zimbabwe.

The list of NGOs published by the state-controlled Herald newspaper includes well-known international agencies such as Save the Children, World Vision and Care.

A director of one of the NGOs, who did not want to be named, told the BBC that they were trying to find out what exactly the government needed to know so they could comply.

The director said all the NGOs had specific objectives, mainly in the health sector, and it was highly unlikely that any of them had done anything untoward.

The NGOs are being threatened with existing legislation, but the Zimbabwean government is preparing to promulgate a new law which will impose much greater restrictions on their activities.