KEY VIOLATIONS
JANUARY VIOLATIONS
0
10
20
26
Unfair distribution of food aid
Impeded access
20
Restrictred Freedom of Expression
20
14
Threats of Violence
11
Restricted access to social services
Assault
8
Looting/pillaging
8
Restricted freedom of assembly
4
Inhuman treatment
3
Unjustified arrests
2
POLITICAL DISCRIMINATION AND UNFAIR PRACTICES
IN FOOD AID WORSENING FOOD INSECURITY
The distribution of food aid in Zimbabwe has been
marred by politicization, coercion, and human rights
violations, undermining the principles of humanity,
impartiality, neutrality, and independence. In January,
ZPP documented 26 violations of unfair food aid
distribution, affecting 1135 people (628 women, 507
men). Traditional leaders and ruling party officials have
been at the forefront of this discriminatory practice. In
Gokwe North, Chief Chireya has been openly supporting
the ruling party, making political remarks during food aid
distributions as well as corruptly using government
sponsored aid to pay his workers as their salaries. In an
incident in Mudzi north, Mashonaland East Province, a
male victim was actually assaulted in front of the public
at the instigation of Village Head Tseko who refused to
explain to the victim why he had been denied food aid
despite his name being on the list. As he sought an
explanation, including asking to inspect the list, the
victim was beaten by three men Pupa, Edwin,and
Nyamuyeruza, Pupa being the village head’s relative.
In Mashonaland West, aid meant for the elderly was
given to 20 young women, members of the ruling party
who had initially gathered for an entrepreneurship
training under the party’s banner. 20 women and 12 men
were
excluded
from
the
distributions
while
the
beneficiaries received 2kgs of rice each. The neglect of
the elderly over young party women, disregards the
state’s responsibilities to ‘provide facilities and
food’ for elderly persons who are in need as stated
in Section 21 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. This
neglect
disregards
the
state's
constitutional
responsibilities to provide for elderly persons in
need. With over 6 million people requiring urgent
support due to acute food insecurity, Zimbabwe's
food insecurity situation is dire, exacerbated by
factors like high food prices, cash shortages, and
worsening market conditions.
4