16 However, in May 2006, the state controlled Sunday Mail newspaper reported that a good harvest was to be expected. It stated that government had reacted angrily to forecasts of crop shortages by international aid agencies and maintained that only the Central Statistical Office had a mandate to issue such forecasts, thus indicating that the past lack of transparency and policy is to continue36, at least in so far as the most widely accessed media is concerned. The weekly Financial Gazette, the cost of which is beyond those likely to require food assistance, reported in August, 2006 that the World Food Programme had pumped US$31.4 million into Zimbabwe as food aid. The money had been received as a donation from the European Commission. It thus appears that there may be some behind - the - scenes co-operation with international food aid agencies while government continues to maintain the fiction of self-sufficiency in the mass media. This contradiction is illustrated by a Voice of America report that stated that Minster of Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare, Minister Nicholas Goche, had written a letter to Provincial Governors instructing them to allow international aid organisations to conduct unimpeded distribution of food aid. Yet when the Bulawayo governor was contacted in regard to the letter he repeated the governmental dogma that a bumper harvest was expected so no such aid would be needed37. It is nonetheless clear that aid agencies remain subject to governmental whim in regard to the distribution of food. Permission is granted or withdrawn at any given time, the criterion appearing to be political expediency rather than need. Registration of local NGOs under the Private Voluntary Organisations Act has been expedited, but foreign NGOs still require the government to agree a Memorandum of Understanding. This latter process is cumbersome, slow and frustrating and can take several years, at the end of which the application may be refused, without reasons furnished. CONCLUSION It is clear that the Zimbabwean government’s policy of suppression of dissent and closure of democratic space remains unchanged. The government has not satisfied any of the benchmarks that were set. In view of the change in circumstances in Zimbabwe, some of the benchmarks set are no longer appropriate indicators. The beneficiaries of government policies are almost entirely ZANU-PF officials. Given the kleptocratic nature of the Zimbabwe regime, it may be appropriate for 36 “Zim Maize 'to help inflation'” News24 (South Africa) 14/05/2006 37 “Zimbabwe Government Widens Scope for NGO Food Assistance” Voice of America 02/10/2006 Zimbabwe’s Failure to meet the Benchmarks in the Contonou Agreement