offloading bags of maize destined for the ward. The maize was yet to be distributed
but the soldiers were providing security for the food.
Midlands
On 4 May, an identified MDC-T member of Mharamasaka village ward 5 Gokwe
Chireya was denied access to food for work programs by a Zanu-PF District
Chairperson- Mathias Matashu. The actor told the victim that this was a Zanu-PF
government initiated Program and that only Zanu-PF members should participate.
Gokwe Chireya is one of the areas heavily affected by drought.
On 30 May, an identified elderly woman of Bound farm ward 18 Shurugwi East, was
denied access to food aid by Murambiwa Mujubeki (Zanu-PF) Chairperson because
they do not attend Zanu-PF meetings.
The Government has militarized the Gokwe Grain Marketing Board by deploying
security agents in the form of the police, the army and the prison services. It is not
clear what these forces are up to and what their mandate is. The militarization began
in February and the deployment is meant to oversee the proper administration of the
relief aid.
Food-related violations were recorded in most of the provinces except Harare, Mash Central,
Mash East and Mat South. Midlands recorded the highest food-related violations with 3. The
majority of the cases were of denial of food relief (67%) which in most cases was being
provided by the Department of Social Welfare.
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