On 8 February Zanu PF activists in
Murewa North violated villagers’ political
rights at Ruware Magaba Shopping
Centre Ward 30. During a food aid
distribution exercise Zanu PF Ward
Chairperson, Lovemore Mhuteyebani and
former Zanu PF Councillor Sheppard
Femai instructed beneficiaries to produce
their Zanu PF membership cards. The
request came after the two activists who
were in charge of the distribution
demanded that beneficiaries prove that
they supported Zanu PF. They then
harassed and intimidated villagers and
took turns to demean MDC activists.
In communities such as Nhlangano village in Tsholotsho
South villagers were informed that the new mealie-meal
coupon scheme is meant for Zanu PF members only.
Jabulisa Mnkandla, a Zanu PF activist informed the
community that opposition members who would want
maize or mealie-meal coupons should first register with
Zanu PF; and that without a Zanu PF card one would not
benefit. Opposition supporters were warned and directed
to either join the party or perish. ZPP urges the Ministry of
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to ensure
the correct information on the mealie meal coupons is
disseminated across the county to avoid manipulation of
information by some sectors of the country.
The continued discrimination in aid distribution further divides
communities and is breeding ground for animosity and violent
conflict. Food must never be used as a weapon against political
opponents. The Department of Social Welfare must seriously
look into ways of reducing incidences of politicisation of food
aid in order to ensure that all deserving beneficiaries receive
their allocation of aid.
On 9 February a villager was denied
presidential inputs in Mudzi North in
Musau Village Ward 17 under Chief
Mukota. Zanu PF Ward 17 Chairperson,
Makarutse denied the villager his inputs
allocation because he had attended a
funeral service for an MDC activist. He
was then informed that he would not
receive Presidential inputs and any
other government aid in future as he
was accused of singing MDC songs
during the funeral and associating with
MDC activists in a Zanu PF territory.
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