THE government should have welcomed the humanitarian fact-finding mission by the group of Elders, unless it has something to hide.

The mission would have given a high profile and visibility to the country's efforts to rally international aid and avert a catastrophe.

Former United States President Jimmy Carter and former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, arrived in Southern Africa on Friday on their way here for a first-hand assessment of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. They were joined in this assessment by fellow Elder and international advocate for women's and children's rights, Graça Machel, spouse of former South African President, Nelson Mandela.

But yesterday they called off their mission after Zimbabwe denied them visas. The government is paranoid. It demanded to know whose mission the Elders are representing and who they report to. Annan and Bishop Desmond Tutu, who is also a member of the Elders, have openly criticised President Robert Mugabe and his administration.

The irony of the denial of visas to the Elders is that it comes in a week where Botswana, which Harare has accused of "offering training bases" to the MDC -- purportedly for regime change -- welcomed a fact-finding mission headed by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Botswana, unlike Zimbabwe, did not become hysterical about the visit or the charges levelled against it. In fact, it invited Zimbabwe and the Sadc troika to undertake the mission.

In denying visas to the group of Elders, Zimbabwe suggests it has something to hide. Only Burma and North Korea have reacted in the manner Harare has while their citizens perished.

The Elders are deeply concerned about the impact of the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe on the population. The purpose of their visit was to meet those working on the ground to better assess the extent of the crisis, and how assistance can be improved. They understand the situation requires an urgent response and that delays can only prolong the people's suffering.The Elders even declared at the outset that they had no intention of becoming involved in the ongoing political negotiations in Zimbabwe.

The actions of the government ever since the 1980s Gukurahundi and the internationally condemned "Operation Murambatsvina" have been to deny repeatedly any knowledge or existence of a humanitarian crisis in this country.

Right now Zimbabwe faces a cholera epidemic that has claimed about 300 lives and yet suggestions by legislators and health experts to declare the outbreak a national disaster, thus opening the floodgates to international humanitarian assistance, are being strenuously resisted.

There is also a familiar pattern to the government's man-made crisis and subsequent denials: Earlier this year, the international community realised there would be inadequate food because of the government's tardy preparations for the 2007/2008 agricultural season. The donor community intended to undertake an assessment, which would constitute the basis for mobilising international assistance.

The government frustrated the process and it is precisely because of its non-co-operation that 1,3 million Zimbabweans are in urgent need of food and humanitarian assistance, while a further five million will require similar assistance from next month until April 2009.

The extent to which Zimbabwe's leaders are prepared to sacrifice lives in order to safeguard their hold on power is unparalleled. The Elders should have been welcomed, if government has nothing to hide or fear.