Food aid used to force one-party state, MDC

Food is meant for all starving Zimbabweans … Saviour Kasukuwere

Led by former industry minister Welshman Ncube, the warning comes at a time the Zanu PF leadership has conceded the problem and challenged its councillors around the country not to use food aid to lure voters during by-elections.

A recent report by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) and opposition parties documented more than 70 cases of aid violation across the country with ordinary people being denied food access due to political affiliation.

The country is currently facing severe drought with an estimated 1.5 million people facing hunger mainly in Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland and Matabeleland provinces.

Opposition parties say their supporters in rural areas of the affected provinces are being left to starve.

MDC spokesperson Kuraone Chihwayi condemned the “partisan distribution of food aid by government”.

“To deny people food aid, meant for the entire nation in this drought period on the basis of which party they belong to is criminal,” said Chihwayi in a statement.

“This is happening particularly in rural areas whereby food aid is being given to Zanu PF card carrying members only while punishing opposition members through denying them food at a time when some people are now living on wild fruits and water just to keep body and soul together is disgraceful and satanic.

“The Zanu PF mickey-mouse games of politics of the stomach each time elections beckon is getting old and the people of Zimbabwe are tired of them.”

Chihwayi said government should follow the dictates of the constitution and stop “trying to starve citizens”.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF national secretary for commissariat Saviour Kasukuwere warned ruling party councillors to stop denying opposition supporters of food.

“Food is meant for all starving Zimbabweans regardless of their political affiliation. Councillors caught doing that (partisan food distribution) will be disciplined,” he said.