South Africa Withholds Aid to Zimbabwe

South Africa has announced that it will withhold agricultural aid earmarked for Zimbabwe until the country forms a new government. South African government spokesman Themba Maseko said South Africa would only release the aid if Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai broke the current deadlock and formed a coalition administration as prescribed by the power sharing Accord they signed on September 15. Last month, South Africa approved nearly $30 million dollars to help Zimbabwe address its immediate food needs. Meanwhile, Botswana’s President Ian Khama has said that a fresh presidential election under internationally supervision was the only effective way to resolve Zimbabwe’s political deadlock. [PE]