Province
Date
HR Violated
Provincial highlights
Matabeleland
North
7 December
Rights of the
Elderly
Freedom of
Association
8 December
Right to Food
Freedom of
Association
31 December
Right to Food
Freedom of
Association
Zanu PF members who took control of the food for work program in Nkayi South were
accused of forcing elderly people to work long hours even though they are entitled to free
aid. One elderly lady *Rosemary Tshuma, aged 63, complained to one of the program
coordinators, Magede Sibanda. Sibanda threatened to report Tshuma to Phibion Kamora,
the Zanu PF district chair and to war veteran Tshaliba for resisting to work.
Eden Ncube a Zanu PF leader in village 2 in Bubi allegedly misappropriated food aid meant
for the elderly and people with disabilities by giving it to Zanu PF youths. When challenged
over this by ward 3 Councillor, Elvis Ndlovu of MDC-T, Ncube said the food was only for
party members who would campaign ahead of the 2018 elections.
There are allegations that politically connected villagers in Tsholotsho North are registered
in absentia to benefit from food aid programmes. This then leads to a process that leaves
out deserving community members from benefiting in food schemes.
Province
Date
HR Violated
Provincial highlights
Matabeleland
South
3 December
Freedom of
Association
Right to Food
10 December
Right to Food
Rights of the
Elderly
12 December
Right to Food
29 December
Right to Food
Zanu PF supporters sold 50kg bags of fertilizer and maize seed for $2 per bag at Embakwe
Centre in ward 13 in Mangwe. Ward 3 councillor, Maguwe, with assistance from the
headman and local Zanu PF activists had distributed the farming in puts to Zanu PF
supporters only. Noting the desperation of those that had failed to access the inputs, Zanu
PF supporters started selling the inputs.
It is alleged that Headman Lucas Ndlovu distributed 50kg bags of maize to Zanu PF
supporters claiming they were Christmas gifts from Zanu PF. The distribution was done at
Ingwizi Centre in ward 5 at Mangwe. However, villagers had been expecting maize meant for
the elderly members of the community.
After going for over two months without receiving food aid, villagers in Umzingwane have
alleged that food is being stored and will be used for vote buying when campaigns for 2018
elections begin. Despite attempts to engage local community leaders, no explanations have
been given as to why food distribution ceased in Umzingwane.
Despite the fact that the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) in Gwanda South was selling maize
at subsidized prices most villagers still failed to buy as they could not access cash due to the
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