UN Zimbabwe aid efforts 'flawed'

Few of those affected have been helped by the rebuilding programme

The lobby group Human Rights Watch says the Zimbabwe government and local United Nations teams have neglected those affected by housing evictions.

Housing demolitions by the government this year affected 700,000 people, according to a UN special envoy.

A report by HRW says the UN has been slow to act on special envoy Anna Tibaijuka's recommendations that it should help those affected.

It also accuses the Zimbabwe government of blocking aid to those in need.

Members of the UN country team feared that any public criticism would put their operations at risk Human Rights Watch

The report, titled "Evicted and forsaken", says the UN-led aid programme had failed to reach the majority of the affected population with basic assistance.

Obstacles

"One of the main obstacles preventing the UN from fulfilling its obligations is indisputably the government's refusal to acknowledge the crisis and its deliberate obstruction of aid delivery," the report says.

But it also finds flaws in the UN programme itself, and argues that UN officials based in Zimbabwe should have been more forthright about challenging the government.

"Members of the UN country team indicated to HRW that they had to resort to quiet negotiations with the government, fearing that any public criticism would put their operations at risk," the report says.

HRW argues that this approach has produced "few tangible benefits".

The report also says that the government's housing construction programme known as Operation Garikai will be of little help.

"The criteria for allocation under the programme, which include a proof of formal employment, a specified salary, and the payment of the initial deposit and monthly instalments, will make the housing unaffordable to the vast majority of the displaced," the report says.