Zimbabwean non-governmental organizations seeking to provide food aid and other forms of humanitarian assistance face red tape before they canresume operations, despite Harare's recent announcement it would lifting a ban on such NGO activities imposed in June.

Non-governmental organizations wishing to resume aid efforts have been told to re-register with the government by September 30, non-governmental sources said.

Zimbabwe NGOs Face Red Tape Before They Can Resume Aid Work

Meanwhile, a ban on human rights and governance activities by NGOs remains in force, said sources reporting on a briefing Monday in Harare by Labor and Social Welfare Ministry Permanent Secretary Lancaster Museke.

Zimbabwe NGOs Face Red Tape Before They Can Resume Aid Work

Museke toldNGO representatives that they must also cooperate with local authorities including thepolice in their field operations, the sources said.

Zimbabwe NGOs Face Red Tape Before They Can Resume Aid Work

The official ordered NGOs advocating human rights, democracy and governance to leavethe meeting, saying that their operations remained prohibited by the June ban.