MDC statement regarding Gwanda food distribution
The MDC has been made aware of further evidence of the illegitimate Mugabe regime using food as political weapon in the Gwanda district of Matabeleland South Province.
On Friday the 12th July 2002 a meeting of the “Gwanda drought relief and food distribution committee” was convened in Gwanda. It is pertinent to note that Gwanda town is situation in Gwanda North Constituency whose present Member of Parliament is Paul Temba Nyathi, an MDC MP. The MDC is in possession of the agenda of the meeting that supports the assertions made in this statement.
The ZANU (PF) MP chaired the meeting for Beitbridge, a neighbouring Constituency, Kembo Mohadi. Mr Mohadi chaired and addressed the meeting. The meeting was also attended by the local Chairman of ZANU (PF) and War Veterans. No member of the MDC was present nor were any invited or made aware of the meeting. Representatives of the GMB, Gwanda Rural District Council, and World Vision. Organisation Help and the Gwanda Municipality attended the meeting.
During the course of the meeting Mr Mohadi made, inter alia, the following remarks, namely that:
1. NGOs were there at “government’s” invitation and were not doing the feeding, “government” was;
2. NGOs were only involved because of the agreement between the WFP/UNDP and the “lawfully elected government”;
3. NGOs were only involved as implementing partners and accordingly would have to follow “government” directives;
4. he wanted a list of all equipment used by NGOs to distribute food as “government” would be taking the same over in due course;
5. “wearing his political hat” he would very unhappy if NGOs were the sole distributors of food in certain wards and asked for comment from the ZANU (PF) members present as to whether they would be happy with such an arrangement, inferring that they may lose political control over such areas;
6. he was a member of a “Cabinet” Committee on Social Services Action and that the meeting he was chairing was one of many similar meetings taking place countrywide.