Opposition supporters denied food in Makoni East
By Violet Gonda
20 November 2006

Zimbabwe has been breaking international records – but all for the wrong reasons.

The country has the fastest shrinking economy in the world for a country not at war. It has the highest inflation at over 1000% . The United Nations has also just announced that Zimbabwe has the highest ratio of orphans to population of any country in the world. It’s estimated that at least 4 000 people die each week from HIV/AIDS related illness. And as if this is not enough the country has the lowest life expectancy in the world – most women won’t make it past 34.

To compound all this, reports of the ruling party politicising the distribution of much needed food continue. This time it’s in Makoni East in Manicaland province. Loveness Makaure, the Tsvangirai MDC losing candidate in the recent rural council polls, said scores of MDC supporters were being denied access to food by the winning ZANU PF councillor Remias Muchineuta.

The MDC candidate who was allegedly assaulted during the run up to the elections by Muchineuta’s supporters, said the Councillor takes a list of people to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to source maize. She said once he is given the bags and goes back to the community the beneficiaries of this staple food are ZANU PF supporters. Those who are known to be MDC supporters, even though they have the money to pay for the food, are left out.

Mrs Makaure said Ward 27 in Makoni East has a small community therefore it’s not difficult to know who supports which political party in the area. She said at least 40 people came knocking at her house Monday morning with complaints that they were being denied access to food.

We were not able to get a comment from ZANU PF councillor Remias Muchineuta.