SYDNEY MUBAIWA
MIDLANDS BUREAU CHIEF

GWERU – Churches and other non-partisan organisations must be roped in food aid distribution and stop the rampant politicization and weaponization of the processes, Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) Zimbabwe Chapter Director Munyaradzi Bidi has said.
He bemoaned partisan distribution of food aid that leaves out the most deserving and needy, diversions in between storage and distribution points, discrimination and corruption that is rampant throughout the country whenever there are drought relief programmes.
He called on Government to make a complete overhaul of structures involved in welfare distribution including those at village levels that are responsible for selection of beneficiaries of aid.
World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that there are 2.7 million people who face starvation this year.
He said previous drought relief programmes in the country were marred by partisanship distribution that left out the most deserving, diversions in between storage and distribution points and discrimination.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP),Zimbabwe is likely to face severe food shortages this year with an estimated 2.7 million people facing starvation.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP),Zimbabwe is likely to face severe food shortages this year with an estimated 2.7 million people facing starvation.
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZAAC) spokesperson Thandiwe Malobane urged all those with complaints of partisan distribution of food aid to approach the Commission.
“We call on citizens who have reports on partisan distribution of food aid to come forward and provide our offices with information,” said Malobani.
Speaking in an interview with The Mirror two weeks ago, Bidi bemoaned partisan distribution of food aid particularly this year when most people face starvation because of the debilitating effects of the EL Nino induced drought.
“Non-partisan civil servants, churches and civil society organisations should take the centre stage when it comes to the selection of beneficiaries and distribution of aid. Involvement of traditional leaders and councilors should complement a fair and just process.
“We need a robust corruption risk management system,” he said.
He called on Government to introduce tighter measures to bring a stop to corruption around the distribution of welfare.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, July Moyo said no food aid should be politicised.
“We advise all those in the food aid and distribution matrix not to politicise any food aid.
“All village heads and committees should make sure that they register every household so that no one is left out,” said Moyo.
“As ACT-SA, we welcome efforts by President Mnangagwa who is engaging his colleagues in the Southern Africa region to find collaborative ways to deal with the El-Nino induced drought. In as much as this is a welcome, there is need to ensure that what he mobilises benefits the needy.
“We urge the President to deal with corruption around food aid rto protect the vulnerable and needy,” said Bidi.