Zimbabwe: An assessment of human rights violations in the run-up to the 31 March 2005 parliamentary elections 5 not report all acts of violence to the police or human rights organizations because they believed no action would be taken against the perpetrators. Amnesty International believes that fear of reprisal also contributes to under-reporting. Several people to whom Amnesty International spoke in February 2005 referred to the intimidating presence of youth militia and soldiers at or near police stations in Chitungwiza.10 Food and elections: a pattern of abuse The use of food as an instrument of political pressure is prohibited in international human rights law, as is discrimination on the basis of real or perceived political affiliation. Over the past two years Amnesty International and many other organizations have documented and reported on the use of food to manipulate voters in elections in Zimbabwe. Between 2002 and 2004, as a consequence of poor harvests, Zimbabwe needed and received significant amounts of international food aid. However, in May 2004 the government claimed Zimbabwe had had a "bumper" harvest and told the UN and international donors the country no longer needed food aid. This claim has been widely discredited. 11 Many areas of Zimbabwe are now experiencing food shortages and hunger.12 Since most international food aid stopped in mid 2004 people are now dependent on the government-controlled Grain Marketing Board (GMB) for access to maize – the staple food of many Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe’s main harvest season is April/May; March is known locally as the height of the “hungry season”, when the previous harvest has run out and before a new harvest is due. In 2004 Amnesty International and other human rights groups expressed concern that a March election date could allow the government to manipulate people through fear of hunger ahead of the elections.13 Amnesty International expressed concern that some of Zimbabwe’s most chronically food insecure areas – such as parts of Matebeleland and Manicaland – are also areas where the political opposition is most popular. People in these areas are particularly vulnerable to manipulation of food. 10 Graduates of the National Youth Service are given preference for recruitment in the police. However, Amnesty International has also received reports of known youth militia members wearing police uniforms, in circumstances where it is unclear if they are officially recruited into the police service or simply being given uniforms. 11 See: Food and Agriculture Organisation/World Food Programme Special Report, 5 July 2004; ZIM VAC "Rural food security and vulnerability assessment", April 2004; Famine Early Warning System (FEWS NET), "Rural Food Supplies dwindle", 15 September 2004; See also: WFP Emergency Reports since August 2004 and Parliament of Zimbabwe, “Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water Development Rural Resources and Resettlement report on food stocks”, presented to parliament on 10 November 2004. 12 In January 2005 FEWSNET issued an emergency alert for Zimbabwe. This is defined as “a significant food security crisis is occurring, where portions of the population are now, or will soon become, extremely food insecure and face imminent famine. Decision makers should give the highest priority to responding to the situations highlighted by this Emergency alert.” 13 Amnesty International, “Zimbabwe: Power and hunger – violations of the right to food”, October 2004, AI Index: AFR 46/026/2004 Amnesty International 15 March 2005 AI Index: AFR 46/003/2005