UN threatens to stop food aid to Zimbabwe

THE UN will stop delivering food relief to Zimbabwe if the government pushes ahead with plans to take control of its distribution, officials warned yesterday.

The government this week ordered international donors to hand food aid to ruling party-dominated rural committees and local leaders, sparking fears that President Robert Mugabe intends to use the food as a political weapon.

The UN World Food Programme said it was seeking an agreement with the government for it to carry on food distribution without interference.