ZANU-PF in partisan food distribution, says human rights commission

ZANU-PF and top government officials have been fingered in systematic partisan food distribution by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC).

The commission has called for investigations saying "those affiliated with the opposition would never get food aid".

The commission's report comes hardly two weeks after it issued a strongly worded statement against police's conduct during demonstrations that rocked the country last month.

"The commission, on the basis of evidence gathered, came to the conclusion that there was indeed discrimination and exclusion of certain citizens in the distribution of food aid in Bikita East, Mazowe Central, Muzarabani North and South, Buhera North and Zvimba South constituencies," ZHRC chairperson, Elasto Mugwadi, said.

"Those errant public servants have to be disciplined by the Public Service Commission in terms of Statutory Instrument 1 of 2000 (SI 1/2000)."

"Community leaders, such as village headmen, village secretaries and district administrators and in the case of Bikita East the councillors, who are all members of the ruling party (Zanu PF), were alleged to be biased in favour of members of their own party and against members of the opposition, whom they told openly that those affiliated with the opposition would never get food aid," Mugwadi said.