Zimbabwes government has banned CARE International from operating in the country for allegedly campaigning for the opposition. The aid groups operations was suspended on Friday, pending an inquiry into the claims, BBC online reports Tuesday.
CARE denies that it “has encouraged or tolerated any political activity”. The ban comes as Zimbabwe prepares for a run-off election between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on 27 June.
Some four million Zimbabweans are believed to need food aid. Mr Mugabe says a Western plot and poor rains are behind the hunger in his country.
“CARE International has strict policies against political involvement and categorically denies that the organisation has encouraged or tolerated any political activity,” the group said in a statement.
CARE has requested but has not yet received any details of the allegations, including names, dates and locations.
The statement said some 500.000 Zimbabweans were affected by the suspension.
Kenneth Walker, CAREs Africa communications manager, told the BBC, that CARE had been accused of being involved in the distribution of brochures on behalf of Mr Tsvangirais Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and threatening to withhold food from those not supporting the opposition.
CARE is involved in a number of projects, including distributing food aid, water and sanitation, micro credits and support for orphans.
