Does Zimbabwe need Food Aid?
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There is no question that food aid is necessary in this country; the lethal cocktail of aids, poverty and malnutrition is quietly killing 3500 every week. While the Mugabe regime is clearly the responsible party for these killings, the victims of this regime cannot be made to suffer more by withholding food aid from them in a bid to punish the government.
If anyone needs to be convinced of the need for food aid, they should read the latest Fews Net report on the hunger situation:
- 1.4 million rural people (perhaps even more) will not have adequate food during the peak hunger period
- the CSO food poverty line went up almost ten times between December 2005 and November 2006; it increased by an average of 23 percent every month during this period
- in November 2006, more than 3 000 MT of food was distributed to at least 500 000 people
- The forecast is for below normal rainfall for almost the whole country
- domestic wheat production is expected to yield less than 135 000 MT, against a requirement of about 265 000 MT, with the highest deficits in the southern districts and the western and eastern margins of the country
This makes grim reading.
The main problem, then, lies not in the granting of food aid, but rather in the way in which the EU and the West have kowtowed to the Zanu PF regime. Millions of (US) dollars worth of food aid has been used as a weapon by the regime, and of this we have numerous examples:
- Zanu PF MP’s and councilors clearly have a degree of control over distributors of food aid, and have used this control to manipulate distribution in the run up to all the elections held in this decade
- in the most recent RDC elections, the chiefs told villagers that they would ‘wait to see how the election result turns out’ before distribution took place
- Andrew Langa (the Zanu PF MP for Insiza) is often in attendance at functions held by some of the food-distributing NGO’s
- Binga has consistently been sidelined for its obstinacy in not recognizing the supremacy of the ruling party
- Serious corruption exists around the sourcing and sale of grain
- Sale of donated food to the GMB takes place
Added to this, The Grain Marketing Board, through which all maize must pass, appears to be bankrupt. They have failed to pay farmers for their 2005 maize crop (at $40 - revalued - per tonne) and for their 2006 crop (at $4 000 - revalued - per tonne); in many instances this maize was seized at gunpoint by the parastatal.
In many instances, former Agritex workers are the ones employed by NGO’s to organize and distribute food aid - a bitter irony as these are the very people who facilitated the farm invasions, and who now drive around in fancy 4×4 vehicles and earn US$-linked salaries. Quite apart from the utter inappropriateness of the situation, they are hardly likely to be impartial in their work of distribution.
Commercial farmers are reporting the Catch-22 situation which they are caught in, courtesy of the NGO’s misguided policies: their farm workers are resigning from their jobs because they will receive more food for their families if they are unemployed.
We have no argument then, with the fact of distribution of food by the NGO’s, but the manner in which this is being done is flawed, and we believe that it is incumbent upon the West to find more responsible ways of distributing food, through apolitical means.
We suggest that the churches are best placed to assist in this task, and should be the international community’s first port of call - remember that over 90% of Zimbabweans belong to a religious group. Many religious organizations have developed infrastructure which, with help, could handle the logistics of food distribution. They have some means or another of transport, and their church buildings could be used for short term storage, and as distribution centres.
Failing that, the neutral NGO’s could be brought in to assist. Zimbabwe boasts some of the best civic and social organizations in Africa, such as Orap, The Legal Resources Foundation, various Aids organizations, mission hospitals and mission schools. Again, these have existing links to the rural communities which they serve, and could provide an impartial service, linking the donors with the beneficiaries.
It is also imperative that the NGO’s engaged in food aid bring independent monitors into the field to ensure fair distribution.
If the regime baulks at such threats to its control over food supply, the donor countries should become more strident in their demands: increasing international pressure on Mugabe to put an end to human rights abuses in his country, publicly and vocally linking human rights abuses to the humanitarian crisis, and demonizing him in the international forum. The food must still come in, but Mugabe must be made to suffer.
We are moving towards catastrophe with the current dry spell, and drought is now a reality. The regime will of course use this to their advantage, by blaming the starvation on drought and on the West. But the reality is that people are dying, and food needs to get to them. It is not enough that the food is brought in by the international NGO’s, it must get to the people in need, and not be hijacked by politicians and their cronies - lives are at stake!
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February 20th, 2007 17:37
Thanks for explaining the NGO intervention and suggesting what used to happen a long time ago when-ever their was drought- fair destribution of maize. However, corrupt governments always do what the other post before this one says - bribe people for votes. Unfortunately, even those who are tempted to be bribed by a bag of mealie-mealie are prolonging the inevitable. Droghts are well known in Africa - they do cause havoc in people’s lives, but people always look forward to the next ploughing season.
Mugabe’s destructive regime destroys even the anticipation of the next ploughing season. It therefore seems more reasonable to get the international world to put pressure on Mugabe whilst at the same time Zimbabweans themselves work together for a fair destribution of wha-ever food is given to them.
It is saddening when we hear of the MDC split for a start at a crucial time when egos should not play a part. The enemy is Mugabe, so why is the MDC fighting each other rather than uniting against Mugabe’s regime?
February 20th, 2007 23:03
Does Zim need food aid?…
Well fellow Zibabweans read this
You wanted independence, you got it.
You wanted my house you got it.
You wanted my dog, you killed it.
You wanted my job you got it.
You wanted everything I ever worked for and you wanted it because of the colour of my skin,because I am “rich” and you are “poor”,because I by virtue of my skin colour get money from the bank for free.
because of the colour of my skin you call racist, pig and throw excrement at me.
The enemy is Mugabe yes, but the enemy is also within you in your inability to accept that equal rights means equal responsibilities, To break away from tribalism and accept other people on their merits and not their race or for some greedy alterior motive.
Nearly all the farmers have been displaced. These people are as African as I am and not racist.
The majority inherited the jewel of Africa on Independence, and turned it into a corrupt cesspit, the laughing stock of the world where toilet paper is worth more than the currency.
Aid ?, No you dont need aid, you need to get your mind set working, get out into the fields and work, reinstate the farmers who have been so maliciously and criminally displaced. Instal a non racial government based on meritocracy and not some skabenga who is going to become an autocratic despot in the time honoured tradition of Africa.
February 22nd, 2007 12:01
Hey Indawo mfowethu - My words articulated indeed! I grew up in the Smith regime - it was tough for a black girl. But there was respect for someone’s property, family and dogs. Nowadays, it is full black independence - no doubt about that. Sadly with that came thousands of all colours who are now undergroud - for no crime against humanity, farm or dog. The truth hurts, but unless we accept that being African has no colour, culture, tribe or religion, we will never get any where. Being African is a right for all Africans of all colours tribes or religion, and being black is no pre-condition of being an African or of being poor.
However, for the sake of the innocent I believe that AID must be given to all poor Zimbabweans. Why should innocent victims be punished for the crime of the few greedy? Most of them were victims during the Smith regime and are still victims during the Mugabe regime.They are after all victims of brutality like you, but unfortunately they were not able to escape Smith’s and Mugabe’s brutality like you have done. I believe that no two wrongs make a right and it is more so in this case. So why not call quits and rebuild Zimbabwe after Mugabe if you are so inclined to do so with other Zimbabweans of all colours who think like you?
February 22nd, 2007 18:09
what are the names of the NGOs-both international and indigenous-that are currrently giving food aid in zimbabwe?
February 23rd, 2007 14:08
AID DAY
Indaba my children, listen and I will tell you the story of Aid day.
And so it came to pass that in a far off land that was once green and prosperous that there would be an aid day. The animals excitedly discussed this for it had been a long time since it had rained, the fields were bare and they were very hungry. The bones of those who had died lay unburied in the bush.
And so on the appointed day they left their homes very early and walked many miles to the town.
On arriving at the main street of the town they found a large iron box called a Container in the street with the dreaded green coated hyaena guarding it. The animals gathered around and were joined by other arrivals. And so they waited, talking excitedly, Where had this come from? What was inside?.
Some said it was from the hated mzungu tribe, others said it was a gift from the mlungu. Most strange…
Their thoughts and discussions were interrupted by the arrival of the Chief of the Pigs in a Mercedes accompanied by many many other lesser pigs who arrived in trucks and their new cars. The Chief of the Pigs instructed the green jacketed hyaenas to break open the box which they duly did having had much experience in this sort of thing.
After a short while the doors of the box were wrenched open and a wondrous scene revealed to all. The box was full, I mean really full, full of food, there were boxes of this and tins of that, bottles, well you name it and it was there.
The animals gasped in amazement for it had been so long since they had seen anything like it, the young animals were flabbergasted and squealed with delight for they had never seen anything like it.
Suddenly, with a screeching of tires and brakes a truck pulled up and many green jacketed hyaenas leapt off barking snapping and howling and forced the crowd of animals away from the box, At the same moment the pigs descended into the box grabbing everything they could and carried it to their waiting cars and trucks. It was total mayhem, boxes were broken, pigs stood on pigs, pigs were screaming, squealing and all the while emptying the box and loading their cars and trucks.
Then, there was nothing in the box, it was empty, cleaned out. The pigs and their hyaenas laughed, got back into their cars and their trucks and drove away telling the animals that the food would be on sale the next day.
The animals were dumfounded and angry at what they had just seen and the little animals cried because they were hungry and thirsty and now thay had to go home with nothing.
The animals quietly started to leave in small groups. All except for the flies who descended on the spilt food, for like the pigs and their hyaenas they just did not care….
February 23rd, 2007 16:35
Indawo
I find your anecdote patronising. I am a black Zimbabwean but that does not mean I am five years old or very stupid and I don’t need a ‘fairytale’ to try and explain to me that the leaders in our country are corrupt and that things are bad.
I also want you to know the following things: I wanted Independence, and I’m STILL wanting it; I do not want your house; I do not want your dog and I did not kill it; I am not interested in your job; I have never called a white person a pig; I have never thrown excrement at single person and I will never do such a thing in my life.
Most black people are just like me. You need to watch your racial stereotypes.
Most of the people I know can’t be bothered about the whole race politics. I am very educated and I want a life of my own on my terms and whether you believe it or not that excludes you, your house, your job or your dog. You are actually not very important to me at all. There are hardly any white people in Zimbabwe and they are not an issue to my personal progress - zanu-pf is.
Take a reality pill. Mugabe isn’t scared of people like you (WHITE people) he’s scared of people like ME, discontented black people and there are lots of us. You white people are just a scapegoat and unfortunately, some of you make yourselves a very easy scapegoat by coming out with words and attitudes like you’ve just come up with.
I bet you don’t even live in Zimbabwe. Are you one of those white people who left the country a long time ago filled with bitterness and can’t keep quiet on the sidelines? I ask this question because when I talk to white people who live IN Zimbabwe, I find that we never talk about race. We are united together in our anger at zanu-pf and in our struggle with the economy.
February 23rd, 2007 19:32
Hello Anti Prejudice
I am really sorry that you consider my story patronising and that you describe yourself as a “black” Zmbabwean. Perhaps you should describe yourself as simply Zimbabwean, without reference to race and avoid racial stereotypes.
I am happy to hear that your life excludes me so we agree on that point. You will note that this simple story does not make any reference to race and is primarily aimed at the pro Mugabe element of the population. So I do not need a reality pill (Whatever that is). It does not bother me that Mugabe is or isn’t scared of me personally and I can tell you that he isn’t particularly scared of you either.
It is of no concern to you or relevance where I live or whether I am white or green with blue spots. The majority have had 26 years to come right and still cannot their acts together, but don’t let it bother youy because sooner or later some do gooders will get you some aid and the country can slide further down the debt drain..
PS.You can actually find white people to talk to?
February 23rd, 2007 21:09
Anti Prejudice.
I am a blue Zimbabwean student. I found the story interesting and a reflection of the truth in Zimbabwe. It is based on Orwell’s 1984. Aid is appropriated by the Mugabe regime to their own ends.that is all. Your reaction is a bit excessive. Why do YOU not address the issue of food aid to Zimbabwe?
February 26th, 2007 11:47
I love this debate and I like the use of my favourite story ‘Animal Farm’. How true that story is today - spooky! But I must say, I give all credit to Indawo. As a society of human beings in general, we need to address subtle racism, begotry, tribalism, steriotypes, egos, pride etc.It is from such honest debates that true human values come to the fore. That is - values that value humanity, not black humanity, white humanity, green humanity, or Shona vs Ndebeles, Tutsis vs Hutus etc as in the case of African politics.
Zimbabwe has taught us, I hope, the biblical lesson I repeat over and over again ‘Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.’
Credit to you Julie - I am a green African born in mid-air!
February 26th, 2007 13:28
Julie, you asked, “Why do YOU not address the issue of food aid to Zimbabwe?”
I responded on the issue of ‘race’ because Indawo framed his whole argument on the grounds of race. He said:
Indawo’s argument was not addressed towards BLUE people, and I don’t think he was thinking of himself as a person of BLUE skin colour when he wrote that comment.
I do not hate white people and I don’t know very many people who would behave or think the way he seems to think the majority in our country do. I think it is important to make that good point about Zimbabweans in such a public forum.
On Food Aid, my answer is the very obvious humanitarian response - I agree with what Florence said:
Mugabe is a dictator, as Hitler was, Stalin was, Milosovic was etc etc etc. The people of Zimbabwe deserve assistance just as the victims under those other evil oppressors did.
Anti-Prejudice
p.s. You may be interested to know that Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ was serialised in one of our newspapers a few years ago, so many Zimbabweans are very familiar with the analogy.