to promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights and freedoms and to receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as it considers appropriate, to investigate the conduct of any authority or person where it is alleged that any of the human rights and freedoms set out in the Declaration of Rights has been violated by that authority or person. Furthermore, the ZHRC can recommend the prosecution of offenders, where human rights or freedoms have been violated. 2.2 The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Act [Chapter 10:30] in section 9, empowers the ZHRC to conduct investigations into allegations of human rights violations. 2.3 The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is publishing this report in compliance with section 244(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe [Amendment (no.20) Act 2013] which states the following: “In addition to the report it is required to submit in terms of section 323 the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission may, through the appropriate Minister, submit reports to Parliament on particular matters relating to human rights and freedoms which, in the Commission’s opinion should be brought to the attention of Parliament”. 3. Detailed Background of the Complaint 3.1. Complainants are villagers from Dewure Resettlement Scheme in Bikita East Constituency of Masvingo, Wards 7 and 8 of Mazowe Central Constituency, ward 2 and 17 of Muzarabani North and South Constituencies and wards 7, 8,9,10,11,12,13 and 31 of Buhera North Constituency who alleged that they were being discriminated against during food and agriculture input distributions on the grounds that their political views were different from those of the officials who were distributing. Page 3 of 21