Be that as it may, Zimbabwe like its neighbours in the sub-Saharan Africa region is set
to experience the worst drought in more than 20 years.
Against that backdrop, it is estimated that about 1, 8 million people need food aid this
year while relief agencies say they require US$60 million to complement
government’s target of US$300 million to import grain.
The year 2015 saw a reduced harvest, whose forecast has been revised to 950 000
metric tonnes of maize, almost half of the 1, 8 million metric tonnes needed to avert
famine.
While this creates considerably higher than usual margins of need for vulnerable
members of society particularly the elderly, orphans, those living with disabilities or
HIV; as well as those living on far less than US$1 a day; among many others, what
exacerbates the situation are the unfortunate and indeed cruel dynamics existing in the
socio-political fabric of the Zimbabwean society at large.
On the political front, members of the ruling party, who for the most part control the
levers of power in the once-rich-but-now-poor nation of approximately 13 million
people, have taken their political tolerance a notch higher over the years. This has seen
the politicisation of food aid where those who are not members of the ruling party or
those who may be members but have missed some meetings or cannot chant party
slogans are excluded from lists of those to benefit from food aid.
It therefore goes without saying that the more hunger there is, and given such political
dynamics, the worse vulnerable victims of such political “persecution” get.
From September to December, ZPP has recorded 135 incidences of food violations,
where those associated with the opposition have been denied food aid. So far the
trend has shown a worryingly sharp increase in the incidences with December
recording 62, which is 72% more than the 36 instances reported for November.
Out of the US$300 million needed for the country to secure grain for its citizens, so
far US$200 million has been secured in lines of credit.
Although this covers considerable ground, there is still a deficit of US$100 million.
And of that which has been secured or will be secured, the reality of partisans
distribution remains a threat for those among the citizenry who need food aid this
year.
The fact that the powers that be have not moved in any visible way to curb this
‘support or starve’ phenomena is quite disconcerting and concerning.
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