agencies’ efforts to prevent interference, such incidents have occurred as relief agencies must rely to some extent on local authorities to determine who qualifies for aid.11 On a recent mission to Zimbabwe,12 Human Rights Watch received reports from nongovernmental organizations that unequal access to food assistance continues and that the GMB’s monopoly on maize may compromise Zimbabweans’ right to adequate food in 2004-5.13 IV. FOOD SECURITY IN 2004-2005 On May 12, 2004, the government announced that Zimbabwe does not require general food aid from the international community or food imports in 2004-5, as it has predicted a bumper harvest.14 The government has not, however, provided any information or data to support this prediction. Further, the government effectively “canceled” the FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) by recalling the government members of the mission from research in the provinces.15 This year’s actual crop yield is thus unknown. In contrast to the government’s predictions, representatives of non-governmental organizations, U.N. agencies and donor countries have predicted that Zimbabwe will experience a food deficit in 2004-5.16 The partial findings of the CFSAM, released in July 2004, cover three provinces: Mashonaland West, Manicaland, and Matabeleland North. According to the CFSAM assessment, this year’s cereal production will be roughly 11 See Human Rights Watch, “Fast Track Land Reform in Zimbabwe,” A Human Rights Watch Short Report, Vol. 14, No. 1 (A), March 2002, http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/zimbabwe, p. 28-34 for findings of politicization of the international food program by ZANU-PF supporters. 12 Human Rights Watch fielded a mission to Zimbabwe for a three-week period in April and May 2004. Human Rights Watch interviewed representatives of national and international humanitarian NGOs; U.N. agencies; and donor countries. Almost all persons interviewed asked not to be named due to the political climate. Human Rights Watch sought but did not receive meetings with the relevant Ministries. 13 Under Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Zimbabwe is obliged to respect, protect and fulfill the right to food. Zimbabwe acceded to the ICESCR on May 13, 1991. 14 “Zim will not require food aid: Mangwana,” The Herald (Harare), May 12, 2004. The government predicted that Zimbabwe produced 2.4 million metric tons of maize. Zimbabwe requires 1.8 million metric tons of maize a year to meet human and livestock consumption needs. The government has requested that the WFP continue its targeted feeding program. 15 In previous years, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the WFP, with the agreement and participation of the government of Zimbabwe, conducted a CFSAM, which is an established mechanism for informing the size and scope of food aid programs. As government officials facilitate access, the FAO and the WFP felt they had no option but to recall their team members as well. Human Rights Watch interview with U.N. representative, Harare, May 11, 2004. In a FAO report based on research conducted in three provinces before the team was withdrawn, the FAO predicted that Zimbabwe would have a cereal deficit of 325,000 metric tons. FAO, Special Report Zimbabwe, (Rome: FAO, July, 2004). 16 Human Rights Watch interviews with representatives of NGOs and donor countries, Harare, May 12-18, 2004. 5