Tons of food aid moved to Chiredzi South ahead of by-election

By Lance Guma
13 February 2007

With a few days to go before the Chiredzi South parliamentary by-election, tons of state-sponsored food aid is reported to have been moved into the area by Zanu PF for use in their campaigns. The President of the Chiefs Council, Fortune Charumbira, has urged chiefs to deny opposition supporters food, calling them sell outs. The opposition and civic groups have slammed the government for using food in this way, to manipulate hungry villagers into voting for the ruling party. Its understood people who are seen attending opposition rallies are being blocked from accessing the food and Chief Charumbira has even told chiefs in Chiredzi to support the Zanu PF candidate. Villagers who want to get food aid are being told to denounce their parties first.

The director of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), Rindai Chipfunde-Vava, told Newsreel that they were concerned traditional leaders and headmen have abandoned their duties to side with the ruling party. She says their reports from the October 2006 rural district council elections had already highlighted the enormity of the problem. ZESN say it is illegal in terms of the constitution, and is against regional and international standards for leaders to act in this way, since all citizens should be protected against discrimination for their political opinions.

A parliamentary by-election is due in the constituency following the death of Zanu PF legislator Aaron Baloyi last year. Immaculate Makondo from the Tsvangirai MDC, Nehemiah Zenamwe- Mutambara MDC and Lieutenant Colonel Kallisto Gwanetsa from Zanu PF are the candidates. The candidature of Colonel Gwanetsa, the deputy commander of the 2nd Brigade, has led to accusations that soldiers stationed at the Buffalo Range camp where deployed in the constituency to intimidate the electorate into voting for him.