Rights-based nongovernmental organisations have confirmed claims that the ruling ZANU PF party is distributing Cyclone Idai food aid in Manicaland along partisan lines.
In its latest report, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) said it had noted the continued partisan and politicisation of food aid. It said:
…In Ward 9 Chimanimani East at Chigwegwe Creche, the local councillor affiliated to Zanu PF and another party member denied Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters relief aid as they stated that only victims loyal to Zanu PF would receive the aid.
In ward 4, Guhune on 26 March 2019, four Zanu PF members were witnessed distributing relief aid along partisan lines, denying MDC supporters aid.
… On March 25 in ward 10 Chimanimani East, the ward councillor and some unidentified Zanu PF members denied MDC supporters cyclone relief aid.
This was even after the President had urged Zimbabweans to put partisan politics aside for the sake of cyclone victims.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) also noted that the distribution of food aid was not being done fairly. A ZLHR report reads:
As a result, there were different versions of distribution lists for the same location.
This had the effect of opening up the process to manipulation by some local leaders including politicians, and other influential individuals, resulting in the intended beneficiaries losing out along partisan, nepotistic and other affiliation grounds.
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