The GMB purchases imported maize (and locally produced maize in productive years) that it sells at a subsidized price. GMB maize is distributed to traditional leadership (chiefs and headmen) who collect money from their communities and oversee the distribution. The international food program, which began distributions in February 2002, is split into two food pipelines, managed by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Consortium for Southern Africa Food Emergency (C-SAFE) respectively. These programs have averted famine by providing millions of Zimbabweans with food assistance. Both the government and the international food programs, however, have been criticized for failing to ensure equal access to food for all Zimbabweans.5 In a 2003 report, Human Rights Watch found that the GMB’s operations and distributions lacked transparency and that Zimbabweans who were suspected or actual supporters of the main opposition party6 were routinely excluded from purchasing GMB maize.7 Vulnerable persons, including many farm workers formerly employed by commercial farmers, were also excluded from food aid, as a result of the government’s restrictions on relief agencies’ access to the resettled areas.8 In addition, donors were generally reluctant to fund food aid and/or agricultural inputs in resettled areas, as they did not want to be perceived as supporting the government’s land reform program.9 Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF)10 supporters have often prevented non-ZANU PF supporters from registering for international food aid. Despite relief AIPPA. The Supreme Court has heard these matters jointly, but has reserved judgment and the ANZ remains closed. The Tribune, an independent weekly, was closed in June 2004, also under AIPPA. See also: Human Rights Watch, “Under a Shadow: Civil and Political Rights in Zimbabwe”, A Human Rights Watch Short Report (NY: HRW, June 6, 2003). 5 See Physicians for Human Rights Denmark, Zimbabwe: Post Presidential Election March to May 2002 – ‘We’ll Make Them Run’, pg. 14-24, at http://www.phrusa.org/healthrights/phr_den052302.html. The International Federation for Human Rights reported politicization of the government food program in a statement “Political causes at the root of the current food crisis” (Harare), December 17, 2002, at http://fidh.org/article.php3?id_article=450. See SCF-U.K., Household Economy Assessment Report: A1 Resettlement Areas & Mutorashanga Informal Mining Communities, Zvimba District, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe, (Harare: 2003), pp. 20-33 for findings on donor reluctance to fund food aid in resettled areas (hereafter referred to as “SCF Zvimba report”). 6 The main opposition party is the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). 7 See Human Rights Watch, “Not Eligible: The Politicization of Food in Zimbabwe,” A Human Rights Watch Short Report, October 2003, pp. 34-45 for findings of politicization of the government food program. 8 Ibid, pp. 46-50 for a discussion on the lack of access to resettled areas. 9 Donors are critical of the way the government implemented the reform, which led to serious human rights abuses, and had far-reaching consequences on Zimbabwe agricultural output and economy. See Human Rights Watch, “Fast Track Land Reform in Zimbabwe,” A Human Rights Watch Short Report, Vol. 14, No. 1 (A), March 2002, http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/zimbabwe. 10 ZANU PF is the ruling party in Zimbabwe. 4