Resources Officer however, indicated that as clear as the process might have
been, some politicians might have decided to misinform people on the
objectives of the exercise but that was not the position of the Company. It was
confirmed that a committee composed of Rio Zim, the DAs Office, Kadoma City
Council, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and officials from the Councillor was
established to assist with the identification of houses targeted for initial
repossession.
7.6
RESPONSE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE
The Department of Social Welfare Kadoma stated that they did assessments
and registration of beneficiaries for food aid without any influence from the
political leaders or any public official. They acknowledged the existence of
complaints regarding food distributions but stated that it was mainly due to the
scarcity of food aid as compared to the huge number of people who expected
to be receiving aid. The Department of Social Welfare indicated that the
distribution of food aid was targeted at vulnerable populations from across the
political divide and meetings were public and any interested person was free to
participate. It was reported that complaints were tackled by the District
Administrator’s office because his office coordinated the processes. The
officials acknowledged that in their absence, politicians could manipulate
processes to advance political part agendas and to score political mileage, but
they always advised against politicisation of food aid and encouraged equality.
8.
Analysis of human rights violations
The following rights were allegedly violated:
•
Right to equality and non-discrimination -Section 56
•
Freedom from arbitrary eviction – Section 74
•
Right to administrative justice – Section 68
8.1 Whether the right to equality and non-discrimination was violated
8.1.1. Section 56 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the right to equality and
non –discrimination. Section 56 (3) states that ‘Every person has the right not
to be treated in an unfair and discriminatory manner on such grounds as their
nationality, race, colour, tribe, place of birth, ethnic or social origin, language,
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