writing, the Committee had apparently not begun its investigation; it was expected to begin in August, once the Parliament had resumed sitting.22 V. UNEQUAL ACCESS TO FOOD In 1991, Zimbabwe acceded to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), which contains specific and detailed provisions about the right to food. Zimbabwe thus recognizes the human right to adequate food, and as a State Party to the Covenant, agrees to “take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right …”23 The CESCR further binds Zimbabwe to work cooperatively with the international community to alleviate hunger within its borders. When the government of Zimbabwe does not fully disclose information vital to ensuring Zimbabweans’ access to food or consistently tolerates opportunistic abuse by local authorities or members of the ZANU PF, Zimbabwe abrogates its international legal and treaty obligations. (For further information please refer to the Appendix, The Right to Food: Obligations under International Law.) The government’s food program Much speculation exists about the GMB’s operations and the size of Zimbabwe’s strategic grain reserve. The government releases limited information about the GMB through state-controlled media, but does not allow independent observers to verify how much maize the GMB has imported or stored in its silos.24 Donors and the U.N. resident representative and humanitarian coordinator have repeatedly tried to gather information about the GMB and Zimbabwe’s strategic maize reserve without success.25 The lack of a comprehensive crop yield assessment, together with the scarcity of information about the GMB’s operations, makes it difficult for the international community to assess whether the GMB has the capacity to distribute sufficient maize in the coming year.26 Past GMB distributions have been irregular and have not reached the outlying rural areas.27 Many Zimbabweans do not have the money to buy GMB maize. 22 “House Adopts Motion to Ascertain Country’s Grains,” The Herald (Harare), June 3, 2004; Charles Rukuni, “Food Security Controversy Rages On,” Financial Gazette (Harare), July 29, 2004. 23 Art. 11 (1), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), Resolution 2200 A (XXI), 16 December, 1966. Acceded to by Zimbabwe on May 13, 1991. 24 “Zimbabwe predicts good harvest,” The Herald (Harare), May 14, 2004. This article addresses the GMB’s aims to purchase an estimated 1.2 million metric tons of maize internally. 25 Human Rights Watch interviews with representatives of donor countries and the U.N., Harare, April 29 to May 5, 2004. 26 The lack of information also means that the U.N. may not be able to respond as quickly as needed given planning constraints should the government request general food aid later this year. “Cancellation of UN food assessment mission jeopardizes future aid to Zimbabwe,” IRIN News, May 12, 2004. 27 SCF-U.K., May 2004, pp. 9 and 17. 7