● 27 cases of abuse of food aid recorded
● Zanu PF, traditional leaders major perpetrators
● 2 die from police abuse
● Abuse of food aid exposes people to starvation
Heal Zimbabwe Trust recorded 41 human rights abuses in Zimbabwe in the last quarter of 2019, with most of the perpetrators denying their victims access to food aid.
In a report released by the organisation, 27 incidences were perpetrated by members of the ruling party Zanu PF after they denied opposition party supporters government aid.
According to the report, officials who were responsible for distributing the Presidential Input Scheme were ordered by the Zanu PF local leaders, councilors and village heads not to distribute the handouts to opposition party supporters.
According to the report, in Zibagwe district one Zanu PF official distributed food aid that was meant for the elderly to some youths.
“A village head, who is also a Zanu PF position bearer, Christina Mushure, village head Magaisa Rino and Councillor Dzitirai distributed food aid which was meant for the elderly to young people, sidelining many old people in the two villages. This took place at a Lalapanzi township where community members had gathered to receive food aid from the Department of Social Welfare,” said the report.
“Former councilor for ward 32, Mirriam Phiri, confiscated bags of fertilizers from locals who had received Presidential Agricultural Inputs at Saton Mine. She claimed that people from Velbit should give her fertilizer as a way of showing gratitude to her for spearheading land redistribution in Velbit area during her tenure as a councillor. Phiri further threatened to eject all villagers from Velbit if they reported her,” the report continued.
It was also revealed in the report revealed that there were three major human rights violations conducted by police officers, which led to the death of one individual in Harare while in police custody.
“On October 12, riot police assaulted, arrested and detained 11 vendors who were displaying their wares close to QV Pharmacy, alleging the vendors had beaten a police officer. The police also seized shoes, trousers, belts and shirts, mobile phones and money from the vendors. On October 19, one of the vendors Hilton Chamangani passed away in Harare Remand Prison due to injuries sustained from beatings,” read the report.
Many human rights activists and opposition party leaders have accused government of distributing food aid and other government initiatives to ruling party supporters, especially in rural areas.
Denying citizens access to food is a serious human rights violation and comes at a time Zimbabwe has been facing drought since 2017, exposing millions to famine.
Food scarcity in Zimbabwe has also been worsened by the deteriorating economic condition in the country.
In 2019, the United Nations and World Food Programme (WFP) said more than 5.5 million people in the country were facing hunger and in need of food assistance, with the number likely to increase as the country is faced with another drought this year.
