The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has revealed that ruling Zanu PF officials abused subsided mealie-meal and food aid by distributing it exclusively to party supporters during the COVID-19-induced lockdowns, thus worsening hunger among vulnerable communities in most parts of the country.
ZPP alleged that Zanu PF officials bought all subsidised mealie-meal and then sold it only to Zanu PF card-carrying members. ZPP said in its April 2021 report:
Some Zanu PF leaders purchased all the subsidized mealie-meal and went on to sell it to Zanu PF members only, thus depriving thousands of people desperately needing the staple food, but did not have Zanu PF membership cards.
The partisan distribution of government food aid is a recurring problem in most rural areas which have been extensively reported on by various civil society organisations.
It has left thousands of people food insecure when they desperately need food assistance during the difficult times of COVID-19.
Zanu PF has in the past consistently denied reports that its officials have been politicising food aid.