As millions of Zimbabweans face hunger and food insecurity due to the El Nino induced drought, political actors are increasingly tying food aid to political affiliations.
Twenty four incidents were recorded in the month of July where victims were denied food aid and, or were removed from the beneficiaries list for being suspected or known members of the opposition parties.
The ruling party has been at the centre of the violations of the right to sufficient food as its leaders have been on record taking over the selection processes and distribution of government sponsored aid.
In acts of corruption and maladministration, ruling party members have been excluding vulnerable and needy beneficiaries by looting food aid.
For instance, in Bikita East Zanu PF activists were observed awarding themselves more rations resulting in some intended beneficiaries going back home empty handed.
According to government policy, a household in need is entitled to an allocation of 7,5kgs of maize (for each month) however, Zanu PF members present benefited more rations.
Bikita East legislator Court Zevezai was seen going away with 10×50 kgs maize while a Forever Associate Zimbabwe member Mr Jaison Mungovi got away with 3×50 kgs of maize.
About 35 prospective beneficiaries went home empty handed. In a similar exploit, four household beneficiaries in Guruve North Ward 5 were discriminated against at a distribution held at Chipangura Primary School for being members of the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC).
The victims, despite being listed as beneficiaries, were turned away by Zanu PF activist Tendai Gora who was in the company of village head Luckmore Kamukaba and Zanu PF district chairperson Fani Tembure.
In other areas, village heads abuse their power to punish households or beneficiaries for other reasons.
For example in Chegutu West, Ward 22 a village head Mr Chimbiya denied 15 families their allocated rations (50kg of maize) on the accusation that they absconded from the traditional cleansing ceremony.
Other incidents have been reported where political actors, in charge of food aid and the selection of beneficiaries wield their power, coercing victims to attend and become members of political parties or risk being excluded in government-sponsored food aid and other development schemes.
Incidents of such politicisation, exploits and maladministration have been reported in Bindura South, Bindura North, Hurungwe, Murewa North and Bikita East among others.
ZPP recommends that the government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, take stern measures to ensure the selection of beneficiaries and distribution of food aid is done fairly and in accordance with the set standards, to ensure no politicisation or administrative actions can be done to exploit the needy beneficiaries.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission should investigate and prosecute all offenders abusing their power, and denying beneficiaries of their much needed aid.
Meanwhile, In 17 recorded incidents, the fundamental freedoms of assembly and association and political rights were violated as many citizens were forced to attend and assume leadership in the ruling party’s ongoing cell-restructuring exercise.
The recruitment and restructuring exercise is Zanu PF’s internal political activity, hence should not be forced upon citizens who either do not belong to the party or are unwilling to participate in its activities.
Reports documented that the affected citizens are largely from rural areas.
The calls to attend and join the ruling party’s local structures were accompanied with threats, intimidation and harassment.
In Bindura South, village heads were at the forefront of the party’s community outreach program compelling people to attend without fail.
In Nekati, village head Simbarashe Zvirime instructed his subjects that failure to attend will demonstrate that one is affiliated to the opposition CCC.
Such identity ascriptions are often regarded seriously hence provoke fear and forced compliance among citizens.
At a time when more than five million people face hunger, the ruling party’s officials have also been threatening denial of food aid and agricultural inputs to non-party members hence forcing people to join its structures in order to be considered as bonafide beneficiaries.
Some of the meetings, such as in Kotwa Ward 10, were convened on the pretence that they would be concerning food distribution for citizens only to be bombarded with party slogans and political agenda.
Such forced participation in political activities violate both the political rights and freedoms of association and assembly as enshrined in respective Sections 67 and 58 of the constitution of Zimbabwe.
The party’s conduct has also severely affected social cohesion and adherence to constitutionalism as some traditional leaders are also coerced to participate and lead in political activities.
In Mazowe North, Ward 3 of Chiweshe rural, the Zanu PF district coordinating committee (DCC) leaders forcefully appointed village heads as ruling party cell-chairpersons.
This is direct contravention of Section 281:2(a) of the constitution of Zimbabwe which stipulates that traditional leaders must not be members of any political party or in any way participate in partisan politics.
This further and in long term affects their conduct and affects their ability to ‘treat all persons equally and fairly’ (Sec.281:1(c) as well as fairly executing their duties, which include maintaining and promoting peace.