Discrimination in the distribution of food and other aid remained problematic in the month of December 2019
with a 22.7% contribution to the total recorded violations. The violations also affected citizens’ other rights and
freedoms such as the freedom of association. The ongoing drought has rendered a number of citizens dependent
on aid from both the government and humanitarian Non -Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Communities
have been receiving food aid and agricultural inputs as the rainy season has started. Unfortunately, the aid has
been manipulated in many cases for political mileage and as a retribution tool. Supporters and perceived
supporters of the MDC continued to be targeted with this form of discrimination as they were being punished for
their political affiliation.
On 30 December 2019, in ward 14, Gokwe Gumunyu, villages gathered at Nyamhara Business Centre to receive
rice which had been disbursed by the government and was meant for every villager. The Zanu PF chairperson in
the area, Joe Madzana informed the villagers that all the aid which is delivered in the area passes through Zanu PF
structures as the ruling party and that those not in Zanu PF structures would never receive aid from the
government. He then proceeded to force the villagers to sing Zanu PF songs and chant the party’s slogans. He
dared those who had been aggrieved to report anywhere they wanted as nothing would happen to him.
In some cases, legislators were implicated in the politicisation of aid as reported on 29 December 2019 where
close to 500 villagers from Mudzi North convened at Nyamuyaruka Business Centre to receive drought relief rice
from the government. The rice was distributed in a partisan manner by a Zanu PF Mudzi North ward chairperson
Gilbert Makazhu with the guidance of Mudzi North Legislator. Three MDC supporters were denied the rice and the
legislator told villagers that MDC supporters would never benefit from government aid and inputs since their
legislators do not recognize President Mnangagwa as the constitutionally elected President of the Republic of
Zimbabwe in Parliament. Members of Parliament are expected to act in a manner that unifies communities as they
represent every member of their constituency in Parliament. Such behaviour by an MP only serves to divide
communities along party lines and promote intolerance.
This manner of discrimination even happens in areas where there are MDC councillors; Zanu PF routinely takes
over the distribution of aid. In Umzingwane constituency in ward 7 it was reported that Zanu PF shadow councillor
Larvet Dube told villagers during a food distribution exercise that MDC members and supporters were not eligible