ITALY has suspended a $22-million aid programme for Zimbabwe because of a lack of transparency in the awarding of tenders, the Italian embassy told the state news agency Ziana on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, every suggestion and warning has been ignored and therefore, in observance of its political and legal responsibilities concerning the possible waste of public funds, the government of Italy has been forced to suspend” the aid, the embassy told Ziana. Italian officials were not immediately available to confirm the statement.