By The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) and the Zimbabwe Peace Project | (ZPP) yesterday launched a report on the abuse of food aid distribution for political gain in Zimbabwe. The report exposes the blatant abuse of government and traditional leadership structures by the ruling ZANU-PF party to exclude members of the opposition from accessing food aid sourced by government and humanitarian organisations. 

The report highlights the strong connection between the right to food and a broad range of socio-economic and political factors. It concludes that, the right to food is equally tied to other civil and political rights such as the right to free political association, freedom of expression, the right to vote for a political party or candidate of one’s choice.

“Human rights are indivisible and interdependent such that the rights to food cannot be isolated. Citizens can never be asked to choose between access to food and the right to belong to a political party of their choice. When this happens then Zimbabweans become captive to those wielding political and State power and the State’s responsibility to protect human rights loses meaning,” said Jestina Mukoko, Director of Zimbabwe Peace Project and Chairperson of the Forum.

Traditional leaders, particularly village heads, are identified in the report as accomplices to the ruling party in the politicisation of food aid taking advantage of their role and influence within the food distribution matrix. Village heads in some areas are accused of convening pre-food aid distribution meetings which are not usually attended by representatives of NGOs and Social Welfare Officers. Local ZANU-PF leaders reportedly take advantage of such meetings to claim that the aid has been either donated or facilitated by the government or the ruling party, which is usually false. 

The study reveals that despite the government’s efforts to put in place several food and nutrition policies, setting up institutional frameworks to facilitate food and nutrition security, food self-sufficiency remains elusive for millions of people and for the nation at large. It notes that most policy interventions have not been successful in ensuring food security due to weak policy implementation, climatic shocks and natural hazards, economic challenges and extreme poverty. 

“The recommendations put forward in this report should not remain just that, but humanitarian players and civil society should ensure that relevant action is taken especially as the country will be going to elections within two years. The depoliticisation of traditional leadership structures, capacity building for rural development structures and advocacy for laws that criminalise violations of citizen’s right to food are priorities,” said Musa Kika, Executive Director of the Forum.

The aim of the study is to provide a holistic analysis of the factors and dynamics impacting on the right to food in Zimbabwe, particularly focusing on the extent to which partisan distribution of food has impacted on the right to food and related rights such as human dignity and the right to life. The study report provides insight into the following:

1. The broad factors which affect the availability and accessibility of food in general. These include agricultural policies, climate change, agrarian reforms, economic, social and political stability, etc.
2. The political economy of food and food aid in Zimbabwe i.e. the political, economic and social factors that impact the availability and accessibility of food and food aid.
3. The nature and dynamics of the food aid distribution matrix, the role of various stakeholders in the distribution chain and the resultant impact on the right to food.
4. The institutional and regulatory framework relevant to the realization of the right to food. This includes domestic, regional and international protocols.
5. Detailed and holistic recommendations on reforms and measures to be taken to promote the progressive realization of the right to food in Zimbabwe.