The government of Zimbabwe has lifted with immediate effect the suspension of non-governmental organisation (NGO) activities.

According to a statement released on Saturday from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, the suspension has been lifted for all NGOs operating in the areas of humanitarian assistance, food aid, relief, recovery and development.

Other areas in which NGOs have been given permission to operate include family and child care protection, care and protection of older persons, rights and empowerment of people with disabilities, HIV and AIDS treatment, care and related support services.

The government suspended all field related operation for all NGOs in June this year. The suspension had greatly affected communities who received food assistance from NGOs. Media reports had indicated that many communities were on the verge of starvation after months of severe food insecurity.

World leaders, the United Nations, regional leaders, diplomatic missions and NGOs have been lobbying the government to lift the ban.

In early July, World Vision recommenced feeding programs in urban areas of the country following the government's clarification that these activities are not prohibited under the 4 June suspension order it placed on the work of international non-government organisations. Other relief and development activities remain temporarily suspended and World Vision is continuing to lobby the government for an end to the suspension order.

In the interim, and as allowed, World Vision staff are visiting communities to assess their immediate needs and hope to fully resume their work as soon as the suspension order is lifted.

World Vision has been working in Zimbabwe for more than three decades and it currently supports 26 community development programs across the nation.

World Vision today warned that progress from relief and development activities among the country’s most vulnerable children will be undone unless a Government order suspending aid work there is revoked.

World Vision, which has projects in 26 districts across the country, is appealing to the Government to allow delivery of basic humanitarian assistance by immediately reversing its decision to suspend Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) operations.

“As a child-focused organisation, we are particularly concerned for the close to 400,000 children we would have assisted this month through our ongoing relief and development work. We hold grave concerns for the 1.6 million orphans and vulnerable children across the country who will now not receive critical assistance from humanitarian agencies operating in the country,” said World Vision’s Vice President for the Africa Region, Professor Wilfred Mlay. “The suspension of such operations will undermine and negate the substantial efforts and commitment invested in improving the lives of these children.

“We are also concerned about the fate of Zimbabweans who do not have regular access to food and who have to date been largely reliant on assistance from NGOs,” said Mlay.

World Vision’s plans to begin safety-net feeding in vulnerable communities next month – projected to assist 720,000 people at the peak of distributions – are now in jeopardy.

“Therefore, we join all humanitarian NGOs in urging the Government to reverse the decision to suspend NGO operations and allow agencies to resume delivering basic humanitarian assistance to vulnerable children and communities throughout Zimbabwe,” appealed Mlay.

The suspension order, issued on 4 June, is preventing 33 local and international NGOs from delivering food, education, water and sanitation, health care services and agricultural development, and from performing many other activities essential to the survival and well-being of communities in Zimbabwe. Up to four million people are now estimated to be in need of aid.

The order also comes at a time of increased reports of violence in the run-up to the election re-run due to be held later this month. It is well known that conflict and violence undermine development. Eager to see free, fair and non-violent elections, Ms. Sue Mbaya, The Advocacy Director for World Vision’s Africa Region, said the organisation was also urging political leaders in Zimbabwe to demand that their supporters cease all acts of violence and intimidation and to restore and uphold peace.

Professor Mlay said it was crucial that both international and regional actors do everything in their power to help the men, women and children of Zimbabwe. “In particular, SADC and the Africa Union, both of which have emphasised the role of civil society in the development of our countries, must engage the Government of Zimbabwe and persuade it to allow NGOs to do their work.

“If steps are not taken immediately to end this crisis in Zimbabwe and to reinstate the work of NGOs, then the future for the country’s most vulnerable citizens, its children, looks very bleak indeed.”

World Vision has received a letter from the Zimbabwean Government ordering NGOs to suspend operations. World Vision has suspended its operations in Zimbabwe in accordance with the request. As one of the largest NGOs operating in Zimbabwe, World Vision is greatly concerned at the humanitarian implications of the request.

World Vision has worked in Zimbabwe with the support of various donors for more than three decades. Current programs include food aid to close to 1 million people, rehabilitation of dams and irrigation schemes, provision and rehabilitation of water sources, provision of seeds, fertilizer, small livestock and other livelihood inputs to more than 35,000 families.

World Vision also supports 26 community development programs in 26 districts across Zimbabwe.

In the coming days World Vision will be seeking to engage with the Zimbabwean Government to re-establish permission to resume its vital relief and development work.