Mnangagwa donates rice to hungry citizens

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has donated four metric tonnes of rice to be distributed among 360 Members of the National Assembly and Senate. The donation is part of ongoing efforts to address the hunger crisis affecting over half of the country's population.

The donation was revealed in a letter dated December 19, written by the Secretary of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare, Simon Masanga, to Grain Marketing Board (GMB) CEO Edson Badarai. The letter outlines the allocation of the rice, which is to be distributed by the lawmakers to indigent members of their constituencies, both in urban and rural areas.

"Please be advised that His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa has allocated 4mt to 360 Members of the National Assembly and Senate, for distribution to the indigent members within their respective constituencies in both urban and rural areas," Masanga's letter stated.

Zimbabwe is currently grappling with a severe El Nino-induced drought that has left millions in urgent need of food aid. In response to the crisis, President Mnangagwa declared the drought a state of national disaster and made an urgent appeal for US$3 billion in international aid to mitigate the effects of the drought and prevent widespread starvation.

The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) recently reported that it successfully assisted over 269,000 people across Buhera, Mwenezi, and Mangwe districts, through funding from its Africa Risk Capacity insurance payout. The Zimbabwean government has also launched its own food distribution exercise to address the needs of those most affected by the drought.

However, reports of food aid being politicized have surfaced, with the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) accusing Zanu-PF activists of unfairly allocating food assistance to those who are loyal to the ruling party. A November report by the ZPP highlighted that food distribution in several areas has been marred by political favoritism, with those perceived as opposition supporters being excluded from receiving aid.

"The distribution of aid in Zimbabwe has been marred by rampant discrimination, with the majority of cases being politically motivated," the report said. "The ruling Zanu-PF party's overbearing influence in districts and wards has largely resulted in the unfair allocation of aid, with those perceived to be opposition supporters being denied assistance."

Zanu-PF officials have denied these allegations, but the issue of food politicization continues to spark controversy. In a related incident, Zanu-PF lawmakers Wiriranai Muchemwa and councillor Knowledge Chipindu were arrested for allegedly stealing 40 tonnes of food aid worth US$12,000.

The ongoing food crisis in Zimbabwe is also compounded by long-standing challenges in food production. Since the early 2000s, the country has struggled to produce enough food to sustain its population due to the disruptions caused by the land reform program led by former President Robert Mugabe, as well as the adverse effects of climate change.

Despite the government's efforts to address the crisis, food insecurity remains a significant challenge, and the need for comprehensive and fair aid distribution is more urgent than ever.