Only one of its three humanitarian relief supply trucks will leave for Zimbabwe on Saturday, said the South African Council of Churches (SACC).
SACC deputy secretary general Eddie Makue said the Zimbabwean government has failed to issue the council with a duty-free certificate for two of the trucks.
Three trucks — one containing blankets and the others food — were supposed to leave for Zimbabwe on Saturday morning.
”The truck with blankets is the one leaving for Zimbabwe this morning. The other two trucks have been delayed because the duty-free certificate has not been organised,” Makue said.
”We have intervention from the highest authority but there’s a Zimbabwean official who is delaying the process. Otherwise, the trucks are sealed and ready to leave.”
He said Zimbabwean authorities had told the council they would issue the certificate by 2pm on Friday.
The trucks have been standing idle in Johannesburg for about a week after the Zimbabwean government refused to issue clearance certificates because they feared maize on board could be genetically modified.
In addition to the maize, the consignment of food contains beans and cooking oil.
The South African Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs intervened to facilitate the necessary paperwork.
The South African embassy in Harare had also offered assistance to facilitate the speedy processing of the documentation.
The SACC is coordinating a relief effort for thousands of people who have been displaced by a Zimbabwean government operation that has seen the destruction of slums and other informal settlements.
There are plans to send a second consignment of goods to Zimbabwe at the end of the month, SACC spokesperson Ron Steele said earlier this week.
The relief effort is being coordinated by the SACC under the name ”Operation Hope”. — Sapa
Cash contributions may be deposited in the SACC Emergency Relief Trust, account number 1979 410 526, Nedbank, Fox Street branch, branch code 190805, swift code NEDSZAJJ.
The reference line of the deposit slip should be marked ”Hope Zimbabwe”.
Contributions of goods should be arranged through the SACC national office at Tel: 011 241 7800