By Staff Reporter
ZANU PF officials overseeing the transportation and distribution of food aid, especially in rural areas, are allegedly using it to play politics by withholding aid from opposition supporters, a new report has said.
This is despite repeated assurances from President Emmerson Mnangagwa that no one would die of hunger.
Churches and civil society organisations have also been calling for the end of food politicisation by the ruling party, however this has been falling on deaf ears.
In a recent report,a human rights watchdog, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) said politicisation of food aid persisted in the country even during the ongoing EL Nino drought.
According to the ZPP, villagers known or suspected to be affiliated with the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) were denied drought relief rations by ruling Zanu PF officials and activists overseeing the distribution programs.
“There were continued trends of partisan distribution of food aid and agricultural inputs, assault, harassment and intimidation, and violations of the right to equality and non-discrimination.
“In May, the Zimbabwe Peace Project documented violations of the right to sufficient food as enshrined in Section 77 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“However, incidents documented during the month show a continued trend of maladministration of food aid and agricultural inputs.
“Victims have been discriminated against and denied food either during the exercises of beneficiary selection or denied aid even after they have been shortlisted to receive the allocated rations,” reads the ZPP report.
In the Chiwundura constituency of Gweru district, Midlands province, 47 beneficiaries from Wards 13 and 14 were denied food aid. The government-sponsored food aid, was intended to benefit 30 individuals per ward in Wards 13, 14, and 15.
“While all 30 beneficiaries from Ward 15 received their allocated rations, only 13 beneficiaries from Ward 13 and 14 received their rations. 47 beneficiaries were denied their right to food because they were not members of the ruling party.
“The distribution was coordinated by Moyoza, a Zanu PF councillor, who was assisted by the ruling party ward committees. Beneficiaries were allocated sorghum or maize meal, each person receiving either 25kgs sorghum or 10kgs mealie meal.
“The deprivation in Wards 13 and 14, was supposedly because the ward councillors were members of the CCC. Zanu PF Councillor Moyoza was recorded saying members of the opposition parties must ‘repent and join the ruling party’ for them to be given food,” added the report.
In Chimanimani West, opposition supporters were barred from attending food distribution programs.
“Mudyanga declared that there was no food to cater for opposition supporters during this time of hunger. He made the remarks during a village meeting convened at Rufaro growth point in Chimanimani West, Ward 8.”
