Zimbabwe Lifts Ban on Aid Agencies

(30 Aug 08 - RV) The government ban on aid agencies working in Zimbabwe was lifted yesterday, three months after it was imposed before the presidential runoff. The governing ZANU-PF party had ordered independent groups to stop work before the election, accusing them of supporting opposition activists.

The lift of the ban was agreed to one month ago to help open way to power-sharing talks between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The on-again, off-again talks resumed yesterday in South Africa, mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Dennis Benton is the spokesman for London’s Zimbabwe Vigil. He told us about the potential outcomes of the negotiations...