Zimbabwe rulers 'excluding' citizens from food aid

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Amid growing starvation caused by El Nino-induced drought, Zimbabwe’s Human Rights Commission claimed Wednesday food aid was being distributed on a partisan basis in some parts of the country.

At least 4.5 million Zimbabweans are in need of food assistance but not all citizens are getting aid at the moment due to discrimination, claimed a commission report launched in the capital Harare.

President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF was described as the major perpetrator of violations linked to distribution of food: “The Commission, on the basis of the evidence gathered, came to the conclusion that there was indeed discrimination and exclusion of certain citizens in the distribution of food aid.”

According to the Commission “some community members are not aware of the food distribution criteria, resulting in the exposure to manipulation by those responsible for food distribution.”

The practice is in violation of the United Nations Principles on Fundamental Human Rights to Food which guarantee freedom from hunger.

At least two million Zimbabweans, mainly from dry regions, are in need of food aid yearly due to poor harvests. However, the drought in the 2015 and 2016 rainy season is regarded as one of the worst so far.

Ironically, President Mugabe is on record denying food distribution is done on partisan basis with only those that belong to his party benefiting.

“As food is being distributed, it’s being distributed to people as a whole to save them. We might differ on policies but when we talk of food, all of us should be served. It doesn’t matter which church one belongs to,” Mugabe said earlier this year when allegations surfaced.

The commission recommended all political parties and local leaders strive to accommodate everyone, despite political affiliation.

“The government must ensure that public officials act in their official capacity and desist from using political affiliation as yardsticks in any food aid,” the commission said.

Although the ruling ZANU-PF has denied the allegations, the practice started in the early 2000s when the country’s production started to go down.