Mugabe bans agency

Harare

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has criticized international aid agencies for meddling in national politics and banned United Kingdom-based Save the Children from distributing food aid in a critical district.

The government forbade Save the Children from distributing food to 55,000 villagers in a drought-stricken district following the defeat of president president Mugabe?s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF).

Two villagers in Binga are reported to have died since the government stopped food aid to the district, and thousands are starving.

President Mugabe claimed that six of the winning candidates in the election in Binga were staff of the CCJP, a charge the district commission has dismissed.

The U.N. food program last week stopped distributing food in the district of Insiza, saying it was being used politically against government opponents. An estimated 6.7 million people – more than half of Zimbabwe?s population ? face starvation.