In Zimbabwe African Self-help Assistance Program is registered as a Private Voluntary Organization with the Ministry of Social Welfare.
PVO # 37/05. Also known as ASAP Africa, in Zimbabwe the governing body currently consists of the Management Team. Once the volatile political situation normalizes, an external Board of Directors, consisting of at least 3 Zimbabwean business professionals, will be nominated to serve three year terms.

Once the "breadbasket of Africa", today in Zimbabwe people are suffering. Contributing factors include:

• Unemployment is estimated at approximately 85 percent.
• Economic turmoil, ballooning debt, negative real interest rates, sporadic shortages of all commodities and foreign exchange.
• Disputed national elections and an uncontested "election re-run", growing corruption, escalating crime, criminal impunity, political mayhem and polarization.
• Controversial fast-track land reforms have resulted in disrupted agricultural activities, compounded by the vagaries of weather and scarce agricultural inputs.
• Cholera & measles outbreaks with a health delivery system in nearly total collapse.
• Brain Drain - Skilled professionals and laborers have and continue to leave Zimbabwe.
• With this increasing poverty and 1.2 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDs. Surviving grand parents often bear the burden.

It is under this backdrop that ASAP Africa, headed by Country Director Regai Tsunga, continues to work to empower marginalized communities in Manicaland Province. Please click here to read an interview with Mr. Tsunga. His team of dedicated professionals continue to work to alleviate poverty, improve agriculture for food security and education under these very challenging conditions.

According to Regai, "We envision a Zimbabwe without poverty and our mission is to cultivate self-reliance. To this end, we work to assist disadvantaged communities in their efforts to improve their own lives. Although the recent dollarization of the economy has eased transactions, access to foreign exchange precludes many from benefiting from the new availability of goods and this underlines the need for intensified ASAP programming."

Today ASAP is working to improve the quality of life 25,000 extended families in rural Zimbabwe; helping single grandmothers to survive and provide for and educate their orphaned grandchildren. ASAP field officers provide business and skills training, and become a valuable asset to their community, where they live and work. This ensures efficient program implementation and builds trust, respect and confidence.

ASAP is working in partnership with CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Concern World Wide and Plan International to help families survive and thrive in Zimbabwe today. The key to success is working together and we hope you will join our effort. Together we will succeed!.