The ruling ZANU-PF party has revealed that it will oversee the distribution of food aid either by the government or its development partners to help millions of citizens suffering from devastating drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon, Newsday reported.
However, observers condemned the move announced by the ruling party’s spokesman, Christopher Mutsvangwa, at the party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently declared the drought a national state of disaster after low rainfall led to food shortages in many areas, leaving most families in need of food aid.
The World Food Programme’s Hunger Map for 2023/24 published on 17 January this year showed that 4.1 million people face food insecurity in Zimbabwe with the number expected to rise.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mutsvangwa said the ruling party’s central committee had decided to oversee food distribution by the government and food aid agencies “to ensure that no one goes hungry.”
“ZANU is known for its mobilization prowess. It mobilized the rural population to fight the colonial army and won. The party will use its organizational prowess to fight El Niño-induced drought, the worst in four decades,” he added.
“The party has decided to supervise the entire food distribution process. The government bureaucracy should know that the ruling party will supervise food distribution in all villages to ensure that no one goes hungry.”
Insiders also revealed that during the Politburo and Central Committee meetings last week, the party spent more time deliberating on ways to maintain its stranglehold on the rural population.
Zanu PF forces have long used food aid as a weapon to control vulnerable people in remote areas.
The ruling party fears that NGOs and food aid agencies will influence voting patterns in its stronghold areas.
Last month, Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo warned of “decisive action” against NGOs seen as “mistreating” or “manipulating” rural residents during food distribution.
This comes after the issuance of a law that increases government oversight of NGOs, raising concerns about stifling independent humanitarian efforts.
In an article published in a local state-owned newspaper at the weekend, Zanu PF administration secretary Robert Mpofu warned against exploiting humanitarian crises for political gain.
Mpofu accused some NGOs working in Zimbabwe of trying to influence people under the guise of providing aid, describing them as agents of the country’s critics.
However, independent analyst Bardon Tawdzira believes the threats were a veiled attempt to silence the opposition.
He added, “Rural areas are the stronghold of Zanu PF, and the government fears it will lose its grip if people become dependent on aid agencies, and not on the government.”
Another analyst, Margaret Makuyana, expressed concern about the potential impact of the ZANU-PF decision on food distribution.
“Food aid should be based on need, not political affiliation. Threats against NGOs will only worsen the situation for millions facing hunger,” she said. Newsday
