Towards sustainable peace in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Peace Project acknowledges the efforts by the Zimbabwe Republic
Police to investigate incidents of maladministration of government sponsored
food aid. In a story titled ‘Police probe Zanu PF official for stealing food aid’
published by the Newsday on the 25th of July 2024, ZRP confirmed that they were
investigating a ZANU PF official in Mhondoro-Mubaira, who was exposed by
villagers for alleged theft of food. The perpetrator, Linet Chirwa, is a ZANU PF
councillor for Mhondoro-Mubaira’s Ward 5. Other persons accused for theft of
food aid meant for community beneficiaries included officials from Chegutu Rural
District Council.
We commend the commitment exuded by the police to investigate and recover
some of the bags of maize meant for drought relief in the district while some of
the maize were said to have been sold to teachers at a named primary school. As
cited by Newsday, “incidentally, part of the recovered maize from one of the
suspects was found stashed inside empty coffins since he is the custodian of local
burial society coffins.”
ZPP also commends members of Parliament, particularly Mashonaland West
Member of Parliament Mutsa Murombedzi who in July raised the concern of theft
and maladministration of food aid in a parliament session, attracting the attention
of policy makers and government officials. Such actions are commendable as
policy makers act on behalf of and for the interests of the public. In June, ZANU
PF encouraged its members of Parliament to desist from being involved in food
aid distribution programmes after it emerged that some party officials were
diverting the grain for personal gain, leaving deserving beneficiaries hungry.
ZPP therefore calls all citizens to be vigilant, expose abuses of human rights and
such acts that affect members of the public by reporting human rights, as well as
responsible government and state institutions to be responsive to the concerns of
the public as we all work towards sustainable peace in Zimbabwe.
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