According to the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ), the polarization of communities has intensified since ZANU PF declared a landslide victory in the July 31st election. Party members are said to have been victimizing MDC-T supporters, denying them critical food supplies and other resources.
In a statement released Thursday, the CCDZ said they conducted “community dialogue meetings” and “human rights monitoring” in Mashonaland, Midlands and Manicaland provinces during the month of October. Their overall goal was “to facilitate dialogue with critical stakeholders in the communities” on key issues.
Using local structures known as Community Working Groups (CWGs) that monitored human rights, the CCDZ said they found post-election retribution by ZANU PF members is common to many areas. Although violence was not being used in most areas, retribution is understood to have led to a life of fear and uncertainty.
The group said: “It has also been revealed that maize imported by the government from Zambia is being sold only to ZANU PF card carrying members. At Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots where maize is being sold at subsidized rates, known MDC-T activists are not allowed entry as they are told “to go and get food from America and Britain- your masters”.
There has also been partisan recruitment of staff in parastals and mines under ZANU PF control and MDC-T supporters are being left out of decision making processes.
In a statement on Thursday, the MDC-T condemned these actions by ZANU PF, saying: “These unfortunate reports come at a time when the people of Zimbabwe are facing severe food shortages due to drought, high unemployment and high levels of corruption in ZANU PF where government agricultural inputs are looted.” – SW Radio Africa News
Post published in: News