Let’s unite to end partisan, unfair distribution of food and inputs

A COMMUNITY peace club (CPC) established by communities working with Heal Zimbabwe in Zaka has made strides in ending partisan distribution of food aid and farming inputs.

This was after the realisation that political labelling and polarisation have remained the biggest threat to social cohesion in communities as local politicians use aid as a weapon to settle political scores.

As part of efforts to end this practice, the CPC organised a community dialogue on February 4, 2022, where community leaders and local duty bearers discussed ways that can help address the conflict issue.

Participants noted that unfair distribution of inputs and food aid was a serious cause for concern, which was causing conflict within the communities.

”Efforts to build peace in our community are being derailed by rampant cases of partisan distribution of aid and inputs. This has created conflicts within our communities,” one participant said.

As part of feedback to the community on this issue, the CPC reported that it had submitted a petition to the district development co-ordinator’s office and engaged the local councillor. The petition details areas where aid and inputs were distributed on partisan lines.

Added to this, CPC has also embarked on an awareness raising initiative where it is conscientising the community on its fundamental rights and freedoms as enshrined in the Bill of Rights such as the right to equality and non-discrimination.

The CPC has also been mobilising community members to register to vote. However, community members highlighted that the voter registration process in Zaka was cumbersome as the local Zimbabwe Electoral Commission registration centre was only serving nine people per day.

The meetings by Heal Zimbabwe are part of efforts to create dialogues among citizens as this helps to guard against human rights abuse and also help build peaceful communities.

Heal Zimbabwe utilises various strategies to address conflicts in local communities. One of these ways is the use of community dialogues, an initiative for communities to discuss and collectively identify ways through which they can proffer solutions to problems in their communities.

Such platforms also facilitate local level conversations on pertinent issues affecting communities as well as create socially cohesive communities.