16 Table 16. Percentage of constituencies reporting voter education. Group % of constituencies reporting. ZanuPF 26% MDC 16% ESC 17% Other 10% There can be many reasons for the failure of the statutory electoral bodies to deliver voter education, but the NCA can only deprecate this failure. With a whole new electoral setup in place, there is an extreme need for all Zimbabweans to understand their new arrangements in order to make informed decisions about their participation. This failure by ZEC and the ESC is all the more serious when it is realised that the Mass Public Opinion Institute, in a survey in August 2004, reported that 50% of respondents had not received any voter education at all, and furthermore, that only 17% of the people interviewed were aware of the proposed reforms. A more compelling case for the inadequacy of the constitutional and legal framework can hardly be made, and, quite apart from all the other irregularities outlined above, is a compelling reason for the postponement of these elections until a satisfactory constitutional arrangement can be set in place. Political use of food Finally, the NCA wishes to comment briefly on the allegations concerning the political use of food. The electoral act forbids any form of treating, but it is evident that treating is not a simple matter to establish. However, differential access to state resources can be regarded as a form of treating if they are seen to operate in the direct favour of the political party in power and obviously without the bounds of the general policies of a government. We will not comment upon the evidence relating to enormous increases in wages and pensions recently announced, although these must clearly be regarded with suspicion coming so close to an election. We are concerned however with the differential access to food in a time of evident drought and food shortages. This is a new issue, and there has been enormous controversy over the government’s policies in respect of food acquisition and food allocation. Thus, when 72% of the constituencies allege partisan distribution of food, with access being dependent upon political party affiliation, the NCA must voice its deepest concerns. As is seen in Table 17 [see over], the percentage of constituencies that implicated ZanuPF supporters as being involved in using food as a form of political leverage is exceptionally high. No such allegations are made about the MDC or civics. Table 17. Constituencies reporting political use of food. Group % of constituencies reporting. ZanuPF 72% MDC 1% Other 1% The NCA would here comment that it is critical at all times to separate access to food from political party affiliation, especially at times of severe drought and food shortage. It is even more critical to separate affiliation and access at times of elections, and especially when such linkages will affect the poorest and the weakest, not forgetting that Zimbabwe has an exceptionally high rate of HIV infection in its population. National Constitutional Assembly: Election Climate Reports.