Zimbabwe: Hunger as a political tool

Index Number: AFR 46/036/2008
Date Published: 1 December 2008
Categories: Zimbabwe

Food insecurity in Zimbabwe has reached unprecedented levels. The government has employed traditional leaders and political activists to deny suspected opponents of ZANU-PF access to cheap or relief maize. Traditional leaders are also used to influence the delivery of humanitarian operations thus excluding opponents of the ZANU-PF from food distribution. In this factsheet Amnesty International urges that the unimpeded passage of aid is guaranteed by Zimbabwean authorities and that allegations of discriminatory food distribution are investigated.