feeding its children before turning to those of the MDC”.30 In another report in mid-January 2005, it was alleged that in parts of the Midlands and Manicaland, ZANU (PF) councillors and the police have taken over the vetting of hungry villagers requiring food under new distribution procedures that could see opposition supporters sidelined. It was alleged that under this new procedure, villagers must produce a ZANU (PF) membership card and get a letter from the ZANU (PF) councillor of their local ward stating that they should be allowed to buy cheaper-priced maize from the government’s Grain Marketing Board depots. When a buyer gets the letter he then takes it to the village head and to the local police who will verify and certify that they reside in the area and must, therefore, be allowed to purchase maize. In early February, the MDC accused chiefs in a number of areas of Matebeleland of forcing their villagers to back the ruling ZANU (PF) party and that they threatened to deny government-supplied maize to those who refused to do so. To be allowed to buy cheaper-priced maize from the Government's Grain Marketing Board, villagers must be on a food assistance register kept by the chief. Chiefs also issue letters authorizing the GMB to sell maize to their subjects. According to opposition officials, the chiefs have told their subjects to attend ZANU (PF) campaign rallies only, with those who defy the order or attend MDC rallies being removed from the food register.31 ZANU (PF) has, in the past, kept its pre-election promise that areas that vote for the opposition will be denied food aid, with Binga being a prominent example in this regard32. In this context, Mugabe’s odd rejection of food aid from the international community”, begins to make sense. He stated that Zimbabwe was expecting a bumper harvest - when all indications and professional reports were to the contrary - and commented that Zimbabweans did not need food “foisted upon them”33. The Suppression of Basic Human and Civil Rights The SADC Guidelines recognise that for an election to be free and fair, the electorate must be afforded basic civil and human rights. These rights include freedom of expression and assembly. While these rights were violently suppressed prior to previous elections, the same effect has been achieved for the current elections, without resort to endemic violence. In an attempt to be seen to be adhering to the SADC Guidelines, the repression of these basic freedoms has abated slightly. However, the small window that has been opened only partially, cannot be regarded as meeting the requirements of a democratic election. a)Freedom of Assembly. 30 31 32 33 The Standard 18 July 2004 Zimonline 8 February 2005 See http://www.sokwanele.com/articles/sokwanele/tenthdayofchristmas_4jan2005.html See http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=199973&area=/zim_elections/zim_news/ 13