Harare Correspondent
The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has reported that opposition supporters are being denied food aid in rural areas, with traditional leaders allegedly falsifying information and sidelining those who do not support the ruling party, Zanu-PF.
This is happening despite an estimated 9 million people requiring food aid until March 2025 due to an El Nino-induced drought.
In some villages, only families supporting the ruling party are receiving aid. For instance, in Ward 8, Vungu district, only 14 out of 65 families are benefiting from government-sponsored food aid.
Victims reported being told to “go and feed from your Father’s plate,” implying that they’re not entitled to aid because of their political affiliations .
Examples of Politicization of Food Aid:
- Vungu District: Traditional leaders are coercing villagers into participating in labor-intensive infrastructure projects under the guise of “food for work”.
- Mwenezi North: Two families were excluded from fertilizer benefits because they didn’t attend ZANU PF meetings .
- Mutare North: Villagers are being forced to work on damaged roads without pay, and those who absent themselves are fined US$1.
ZPP is calling for urgent action from Parliament to investigate these abuses and curb political bias and mismanagement. The organization has documented 9 incidents where 85 victims were denied aid due to their political affiliations .
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