Herald Reporter

Sweden has extended US$5,5 million to Zimbabwe as part of its contribution to the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) for 2010.

As of April 13, CAP had received US$105 million against the target of US$379 million requested.

Speaking at the hand over ceremony in Harare on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe urged development partners to go beyond humanitarian assistance and consider extending support to sustainable development programmes aimed at doing away with donor dependency syndrome.

"I call upon Sweden and other development partners to assist Zimbabwe in moving away from donor dependency towards sustainable development.

"In this regard, Government is in the process of looking at modalities of implementing public works programmes to replace the current food handouts," DPM Khupe said.

She said the early recovery programme, which addressed issues of donor dependency had the least funding accounting for only US$5.5 million.

Other programmes such as nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene account for US$12 million and US$46 million respectively.

She implored able bodied people to participate in public works programmes for them to receive assistance.

DPM Khupe, however, said food handouts would still be extended to the vulnerable who include the elderly, chronically ill and child headed families.

Turning to the donation, DPM Khupe commended Sweden for its continued humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.

"Sweden has been consistent in supporting humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe and in the CAP 2009, the country contributed over US$7 million.

"The current donation comes at a time when the country is experiencing reduced crop yields due to the prolonged dry spell that affected some parts of the country. The dry spell has raised concerns as it may affect food security," DPM Khupe said.

She called on the United Nations to consider revision of CAP 2010 requirements upwards especially in the area of food saying indications were that a third of the country’s population might suffer food shortages this year.

Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Sten Rylander, said although humanitarian assistance was still needed in the country, the situation had greatly improved.

"In comparison to previous years, the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe has improved. At the same time, the margins are narrow and the situation remains fragile. There is great need for continued humanitarian assistance and monitoring to maintain the positive gains," Mr Rylander said.

He said the donated US$5,5 million would be channelled in a coordinated manner through the CAP focusing on food security, protection, water and sanitation and early recovery.

The assistance will be channeled through the International Organisation for Migration, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Association of Evangelicals in Africa, World Vision and UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs.

Speaking at the same occasion, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator Ms Elizabeth Lwanga, said this year’s reduced request for funding was an indication that Zimbabwe was in the transitional stage of recovery.

Last year’s CAP request was US$719 million. Last year’s request received 65 percent by December of the total requested funding.

CAP was introduced in Zimbabwe in 2006 to address humanitarian issues and has been in place on an annual basis since then.

This year’s appeal was the first joint venture between the United Nations Agencies and Government.