5 MDC officials arrested for distributing food in Buhera

By Violet Gonda
19 January 2007

We have received reports that five opposition officials who were trying to help starving villagers in Buhera South by distributing much-needed food, were arrested on Friday morning. Pishai Muchauraya, the MDC spokesperson for the Tsvangirai MDC in Manicaland province, said the five are being held at Murambinda police station.

Those arrested are MDC ward 18 chairperson Ngoni Kashaya and district officials: Steven Zimuto, Isheunesu Mapingure, Edmore Murombo and Tichaona Dhina. They are expected to appear in court next week.

Muchauraya said: “They were arrested in connection with the purchase of mealie meal which they wanted to distribute to starving MDC supporters in the area.”

We could not get a comment from Sgt. Chatapura, the Member in Charge at Murambinda Police Station.

It’s reported the police raided a shop at Sungura Business Centre in Buhera South where 200, 50kg bags, were being store for distribution. Muchauraya claims the opposition, through their Councillor Paul Mugombe, had sourced the food from outside Buhera because the supply of food is being politicised in the area.

“It looks like they don’t want us to distribute maize but our people came to us complaining that they cannot buy mealie meal from the GMB,” Muchauraya said. He alleges that even food that is obtainable from the shops is given to ZANU PF supporters and officials.

Critics and observers have long believed that food is being used for political purposes. They say keeping a tight control over much needed food supplies is one way that ZANU PF has maintained its grip on power.

Mismanagement and corruption by state officials is blamed for the food crisis that grips the country. Former GMB Chief Executive Renson Gasela told us early this month that despite being given trillions of Zimbabwean dollars to import 900 000 tonnes of maize, the GMB reserves are now empty. He said only part of the money was used to buy 500 000 tonnes but there is no mention of what happened to the other half of the money given to the GMB.

Gasela also said; “We have run out food as a country against good rain season last year and against predictions of a bumper harvest of 1.8million. So they were not telling the truth.”