By Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS, March 30 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's ambassador to the European Union is drawing up a request for food aid to help relieve the African country's growing food shortages, a European Parliament development committee member said on Friday.

Zimbabwe's Gift Punungwe said he will "be making a detailed request" to EU Aid Commissioner Louis Michel concerning the need for increased food supplies, EU assembly member Eoin Ryan told Reuters on Friday.

"The ambassador said Zimbabwe needs substantial food supplies from the EU. He admitted his country is suffering chronic food shortages and people are now caught by the clear effects of a famine," Ryan said after meeting with Punungwe.

A spokeswoman for Punungwe confirmed the meeting had taken place on Thursday and the issue of EU aid was discussed.

In 2006, the EU contributed 86.1 million euros ($114.6 million) in aid to Zimbabwe which covered areas such as healthcare and water sanitation, but did not include food.

"This is not normal development aid," a spokesman for Michel said. "We have not received any request so far for food aid, nor has the government indicated to our agencies that there is a crises up to now."

According to the Commission, the aid is in line with the EU's targeted sanctions which were renewed for 12 months earlier this year. The United States has also imposed sanctions following elections which the opposition said were rigged.

DEEPENING CRISES

Talks between Ryan and Punungwe took place as African leaders met to find a solution to Zimbabwe's deepening political crises and as the U.N.'s humanitarian chief said more people will starve in the country due to a poor maize forecast.

Inflation in the southern African country is the highest in the world. It has more than 80 percent unemployment and its economy is shrinking dramatically.

President Robert Mugabe is resisting outside interference. The 83-year-old leader blames his country's problems on the legacy of British colonialism.

Ryan said Punungwe did not specify the exact amount of aid required by his country during the meeting.

"He has agreed to send a letter to me and Louis Michel outlining what his government wants and I will raise this with the commissioner with a view to facilitating a meeting," Ryan said.

"But ambassador Punungwe did agree he would address a meeting of the development committee in the European Parliament if he was invited," Ryan said.

"He did not rule out a parliament delegation visiting Zimbabwe, but that it depended on the actual nature of the visit."

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