FACT SHEET
No. 1, 2019
violations were documented for this period. Mashonaland Central recorded the
highest violations with 24 followed by Manicaland (14, Mashonaland East (13),
Mashonaland West (12) and Masvingo with 11. The graph above shows the recorded
violations according to province.
The government has stated
that food aid is for all
Zimbabweans, not a selected
few. Former President Robert
Mugabe declared that no one
would starve2, a sentiment the
Ministry of Public Service,
Labour and Social Welfare
seemed to echo through
Deputy Minister Lovemore
Matuke3.
However,
even
during the catastrophic Cyclone
Idai crisis, citizens were
discriminated against receiving
food and other aid from wellwishers and stakeholders, for
supporting
an
opposition
4
political party .
The food aid violations map
shows the districts with
recorded food aid distribution
cases. Mount Darwin has the
highest number of cases,
Figure 1 Food aid violations map
followed by Buhera and
Chimanimani, then Zaka. The cases in Mount Darwin involved three Zanu PF
councillors (Ward 6 councillor Luckson Shava, Ward 14 councillor Emmanuel
Chigango, and Ward 6 councillor Coaster Francesco), two village heads (Tavengwa
Chaparira, Peter Nyakudya and Vine Chimudzeka), a village secretary (Maxwell
Kativhu and Zanu PF District Chairperson Joseph Kashere as the perpetrators who
denied opposition supporters food aid. The cases recorded in Chimanimani were of
Cyclone Idai survivors who were not given food, clothing and utensils directed to
2
https://www.herald.co.zw/no-one-will-starve-president-mugabe/
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2019-05-21-hunger-hits-zimbabwean-cities-as-droughtdrives-food-shortages/
3
4
https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/govt-bans-political-involvement-in-aiddistribution-to-cyclone-victims/