African governments and the African Union have been petitioned by more than 150 international rights groups to act on the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. ”The silence of African leaders on Zimbabwe represents a failure to honour their commitments to the human rights of ordinary Africans,” a coalition led by Amnesty International and the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions said in a statement on Wednesday.
Earlier this year President Robert Mugabe’s government drew flak over its Operation Murambatsvina, which a United Nations special envoy report said destroyed the homes of up to 700 000 people and affected the lives of 2,4-million others.
The coalition said Harare had failed or was unwilling to ensure that those affected had access to minimum levels of food, water, shelter and medical care.
The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, is due to visit Zimbabwe in December to try and iron out differences with the government and clear the way for a stalled $30-million humanitarian relief programme.
Spiralling inflation, fuel shortages, escalating food and transport prices and growing unemployment have caused hardship and hunger, particularly rife in the vast rural areas of the country.
The World Economic Forum has ranked Zimbabwe among countries with the worst macro-economic environment in the world.
In its latest Global Competitiveness Report, made available to ZimOnline this week, the Switzerland-based forum rated Zimbabwe as number 109 out of 117 countries polled.
Zimbabwe, grappling severe economic decline described by the World Bank as unseen in a non-war situation, was ranked 99 last year.
The forum report forms part of key data foreign investors consult before deciding where to place investments.
Among crucial indicators examined are issues such as the soundness and consistency of economic policy, economic and political stability, levels of corruption, observance of the rule of law and respect for property rights.