JOHANNESBURG , 1 June 2007 (IRIN) - ZIMBABWE: Food aid welcome, if crisis blamed on drought 

The Zimbabwean government has acknowledged it is facing a severe food crisis and has welcomed food aid - so long as no "political strings" are attached.  A joint Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) team was invited to asses the food security situation in Zimbabwe late last month after President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF government declared 2007 a drought year.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72488

ZIMBABWE: Pro-government militias launch intimidation campaign against Catholics

Ruling ZANU-PF militia, comprising youths and veterans of Zimbabwe's war of independence, are intimidating church members in rural areas in a bid to stop the distribution of a pastoral letter denouncing President Robert Mugabe's government, human rights groups claim.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72458

SOUTHERN AFRICA: IMF policies may impact on education quality

International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies which require many poor countries to freeze recruitment of teachers in an attempt to curb spending is impacting on the quality of education, says a new report.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72457

BOTSWANA: Stigma deprives orphans of aid

The stigma of being labelled poor is inhibiting struggling foster families in Botswana, who are looking after already vulnerable children, from accessing welfare, a new study has found. The study, which focused on the plight of orphans and vulnerable children in Palapye, one of the largest villages in Botswana, located 275km north of the capital, Gaborone, found government assistance was "crippled" by the reluctance of families to register children for state aid. 

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72433

IRIN news