Zimbabwe suspends NGOs as possible election looms

[Robb]

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe has suspended 29 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in one of its provinces including Care International, state media reported on Wednesday, raising worries of a crackdown similar to one that preceded elections in 2008.

President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party kicked out foreign NGO ahead of the poll four years ago, making it difficult for the outside world to provide humanitarian assistance or monitor a vote marred by political violence and voter intimidation.

The ZANU-PF governor of the southerly Masvingo province, Titus Maluleke, said the 29 NGOs had been suspended in Masvingo for ignoring demands to renew their annual registration.

(snip)

In 2008, at the height of a severe economic and political crisis, ZANU-PF outlawed all food aid agencies. The ban was reversed in 2009 after Mugabe, in power since 1980, was forced into a coalition government with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

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[David__77]

1. Interesting how Mugabe neutralized international opposition.

The Mugabe-Tsvangirai alliance not only won increased domestic support, but also silenced much foreign opposition as well. It was a smart strategic move, without actually surrendering power.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. It is incredibly rare for me to wish for someone's death. But in this case

I would make an exception, except that the resulting upheaval of what still has the outside appearance of a working society might even be worse than the reality here and now.