Panel Probes Food Politicization Amid Growing Hunger
11 May 2012
Ntungamili Nkomo | Washington DC
The committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of Zimbabwe’s
power-sharing agreement said Friday it was investigating allegations of
rampant food politicization by President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.
Officials said they deployed a team to Mutare North, Manicaland province, to
meet with villagers allegedly denied maize by a local headman, under a
government loan scheme run by the Grain Marketing Board.
Politicization of food has been reported across the country, and last month
cabinet took up the issue and ordered grain officials to ensure there is no
discrimination.
Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee official Thabitha Khumalo said
her organ has received complaints from different parts of the country,
adding the grain scheme should not be used for political purposes.
“We have since opened up offices in all provinces to respond to different
grievances including reports of partisan grain distribution,” Khumalo told
VOA.
“Our team visited Mutare today (Friday) to investigate reports that some
villagers are being denied maize because they are members of the MDC.”
Zimbabwe, which needs at least 2,2 million tonnes of grain for annual
subsistence, is facing a 1 million tonne grain deficit due to drought.
Insiza South Member of Parliament Siyabonga Malandu Ncube said the food
politicization problem was particularly rampant in his constituency, located
in drought-prone Matabeleland South.