The challenge here is to deliver aid to the people and not to Robert Mugabe and his allies. In many surrounding African countries, aid is typically delivered via the traditional local power structure. The tribal chief is in charge, so the tribal chief takes more and the rest is trickled down through the tribe. In Western eyes it's not always fair but that's how it works. At this point anything is better than passing through the Mugabe power structure. CNN:
The United States will provide $73 million in aid to Zimbabwe, President Barack Obama announced Friday after meeting with Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the White House.
"I obviously have extraordinary admiration for the courage and tenacity that the prime minister has shown in navigating through some very difficult political times in Zimbabwe," Obama said.
"There was a time when Zimbabwe was the breadbasket of Africa, and (it) continues to have enormous potential. It has gone through a very dark and difficult time politically."
