Nairobi/Brussels, 29 August 2002: The ZANU-PF government of
President Robert Mugabe is carrying out a policy of selective starvation
against its political enemies. The denial of food to opposition strongholds has
replaced overt violence as the government’s principal tool of repression in
Zimbabwe. Mortality and morbidity rates will continue to accelerate if this
policy is not reversed.
The most vulnerable sub-group is Zimbabwe’s black
farm workers, who have been displaced by ZANU-PF land-grabs. The media,
especially in the UK, has concentrated on the plight of hundreds of white
farmers forced off the land, but more than 1.5 million black farm workers and
family members are at risk of acute hunger.
ICG Africa Program Co-Director John Prendergast has just
toured Zimbabwe, and makes these observations:
AIDS
deaths are accelerating as a result of poor nutrition due to the denial of food
to certain areas.
Repression
is increasing ahead of district elections to be held in late September.
The
distribution of food aid has already been politicised, but the commercial food
sector is also increasingly monopolised and corrupted by ZANU-PF.
“The Zimbabwean government’s strategy of using of food as a
political weapon is working. People are beginning to die as a result of their
perceived support of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC),” said Prendergast.
President
Mugabe’s attendance at the World Summit for Social Development in Johannesburg
– and his speech on 2 September – can still be an opportunity for regional
leaders, the African Union, the Commonwealth, the EU, and the U.S. to press for the restoration of democracy in Zimbabwe –
and save lives.
“The
developing famine in Zimbabwe is rooted in bad governance”, said Prendergast,
“Recent U.S. rhetoric about the illegitimacy of the Mugabe government must be
backed up by assertive diplomacy. It is time for real international cooperation
in promoting democratic change in Zimbabwe.”
The region and the international community must intensify
efforts to produce an inclusive interim government, leading to internationally
supervised elections. This will require a range of pressures and incentives,
with the close involvement of neighbouring states. In the absence of such an
effort, thousands of Zimbabweans may die of starvation.
Repression – with food as the primary weapon - is increasing
ahead of district elections to be held on 28-29 September. ICG has learned that
ZANU-PF officials are telling local chiefs and headmen that if they do not
produce a ruling party victory in their areas, they will not receive food.
The distribution of food aid has already been politicised
but ZANU-PF is also politicising commercial food distribution. It monopolises
food imports, steering food to or away from areas based on political
calculations, allowing party officials to profit from the re-sale of food at
exorbitant prices, and in some locations requires ZANU-PF membership as a
condition of purchasing food.
“Deliberately creating food shortages in opposition areas
not only punishes MDC supporters but also provides ruling party officials with
further opportunities for profitable food re-sale rackets”, said Prendergast.
“The system is controlled and corrupted from the top by key ZANU-PF and
military officials straight down to the local retailers at the village level.
When people die of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition, it is as a
result of this political control and corruption.”
John Prendergast is available for interview: Mobile: +254 722 44 11 56
ICG MEDIA CONTACTS
Katy Cronin (London) +44.20.86.82.93.51
email: [email protected]
Ana Caprile (Brussels) +32-2-536.00.70
Jennifer Leonard (Washington) +1-202-408 8012
ICG reports on Zimbabwe are available on our website: www.crisisweb.org