FOOD AND OTHER FORMS OF AID VIOLATIONS In an act of exemplary stewardship Gwanda North Member of Parliament Madodana Sibanda of Zanu PF has been hailed by the community for spearheading a process of equal distribution of food and other aid regardless of political affiliation. In a discussion with ZPP, a group of women in the constituency said they are confident their representative will be voted in again in the next election. An elderly lady said “….unlike others in the past Madodana insists that if the food or the commodity being distributed is not enough to go round in its packages then the community will share be it maize or fertilizer even if it means each person gets a cupful.” However, the situation is not the same in other parts of the country since food and farming inputs continue to be distributed along party lines in most of the provinces. Zanu PF supporters are the main perpetrators while the members of the opposition party are victims. Dry regions such as Matabeleland North and South as well as some portions of Masvingo are experiencing drought this farming season and there is need for state intervention to ensure adequate food for citizens. Manicaland On 6 February 2015, ward 3 Councillor Martin Dube of Zanu PF in Chipinge Central denied a family access to fertiliser under the Presidential Input Scheme accusing the family of being MDC-T supporters. Reported Food Violations - February 2015 14 15 10 5 0 0 3 5 3 2 5 0 0 0 Figure 2: Reported Food Violations Mashonaland East On 5 February 2015 in an act of political intolerance war veteran Isaac Masekesa seized a bag of fertilizer from another villager of Ward 8 in Mudzi West and openly accused him of being a member of the opposition. The Village Head had listed all villagers to get fertilizer but Masekesa vouched that only Zanu PF supporters should be given priority over people from other parties in accessing inputs. Village head Joseph Kandigomba of Mukota B in Mudzi North denied one female villager access to beans, cooking oil and grain being distributed by an international aid organisation because her children were election observers during the 2013 elections. The food was distributed to the elderly on 5 February 2015. Felix Shonhiwa Ward 12 Councillor in Marondera West used his influence to get two bags of 50kg fertilizer instead of one during distribution. The villagers and other members of the distribution committee were disgruntled about that. However, one of Shonhiwa’s bags disappeared and was not recovered. 8