ZIMBAWEANS have survived on food handouts from international donors over the past seven years

By Regerai Marwezu 

MASVINGO – Several villagers in drought-prone Mwenezi district in southern Zimbabwe were yesterday denied food aid by ruling ZANU PF officials amid fears President Robert Mugabe could increasingly use the humanitarian assistance bait to elicit support ahead of watershed elections next years. 

Hungry villagers gathered at Rata rural service centre in the district were shocked yesterday after being told by ZANU PF officials and members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) that they would not get any assistance because they supported the main opposition faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai. 

Tsvangirai heads the larger faction of the splintered Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Academic Arthur Mutambara leads the other MDC faction. 

"Only a few people managed to get food while hundreds were denied the opportunity to get the maize for allegedly supporting opposition political parties," said villager Albert Manjengwa. 

He said they were told to get food aid from Tsvangirai. 

"Officers from the president's office told us that the people in our area were not politically correct hence they must starve or get food from their party," added Manjengwa. 

Mwenezi district is one of the areas in Masvingo province adversely affected by the poor harvest of the 2006/07 season. 

Some families in the area are reportedly going for days without food and are only looking to government and non-governmental organisations for help. 

According to the villagers, all suspected MDC supporters have since been summoned to a hearing on October 27 which will be presided over by CIO operatives at Chief Negari's homestead. 

MDC officials in Masvingo yesterday said they were shocked by the government's decision to deny its supporters relief food. 

"These incidents in which our supporters are being denied food ahead of the elections next year are on the increase. I think it is high time we take action as a party to save our supporters who are starving," said MDC Masvingo central legislator Tongai Matutu. 

"We are also not happy to hear that members of the CIO have since taken over the distribution of food in rural areas where they screen beneficiaries on political grounds," added Matutu. 

Agriculture Minister Rugare Gumbo yesterday confirmed that operatives from the CIO were part of food distribution teams in rural areas. 

"It is true that members of the CIO are now part of the food distribution team. The aim is not to deny other people food but to ensure that the whole thing is done properly," Gumbo told ZimOnline. 

Masvingo governor Willard Chiwewe yesterday said he was yet to receive reports of politicisation of food. 

"I have never received such reports but I think if it was true I should have heard about it," he said. 

President Mugabe's government has been accused of politicising food aid ahead of next year's harmonised elections. 

Although Mugabe has personally denied the allegations, one of his supporters, Chief Fortune Charumbira, is on record as having told government officials in Masvingo earlier this year to deny food aid to those linked to the MDC, arguing that the opposition supporters were biting the hand that feeds them. 

Zimbabweans go to the polls next year and Mugabe, in power since independence in 1980, is accused of employing dirty tactics such as manipulating the voter registration exercise, politicisation of food aid and harassment of opponents to ensure victory. - ZimOnline