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Hunger
will finish us off, say the elderly and handicapped
Zimbabwe
Peace Project
November 22, 2006
As the political divide between
pro establishment (Zanu PF) supporters and anti establishment supporters
(MDC and other parties) widens, so is the suffering of the elderly,
handicapped and other socially disadvantaged groups in society in
some parts of Manicaland.
In the ideal situation, the elderly
members of our society should be taken care of by the state through
monthly provisions from the department of Social Welfare and exemption
from taxes. For the elderly in the province, this is not the case
as provisions meant for some of them like maize from the Grain Marketing
Board, blankets from NGOs and the department of Social Welfare are
being withheld from them on political grounds.
For 96 years old, Mbuya Munetsi Mazvihwa
from Village 56 in Chinyika East, Makoni North, this has been a
trying time in her life. She was denied blankets and food packs
meant for the elderly by Zanu PF activists M (Zanu PF chairman),
M and a war veteran M on the grounds that she does not attend Zanu
PF meetings despite her advanced age. She has very limited eye sight
and her mobility is now seriously challenged. She was born in 1910
in Masvingo and is being looked after by her widowed daughter. The
perpetrators, it was claimed, also told the old lady that she could
not access the provisions because they suspected that her grown
up children and grand children are members of the MDC.
Asked how she feels about the treatment,
she calmly said she does not even understand the reason for such
devilish conduct but then added " vazukuru, ini ndakazvagwa
kare kare, ndakararama hondo dzepasi rese mbiri uye yechimurenga
nemakore akawanda enzara, izvi handisakambozviona zvokuti munhu
anga shayiswa chikafu novokwake, zvinogwadza" translated
it means ‘My grandchildren, I was born a very long time ago, I have
survived through two world wars, the liberation war and many other
years when there were droughts, but I have never experienced such
conduct where one is denied food by your own people! It is painful.’
In another case, 87 year old Mbuya
Jakachira from Chidziya village in Mutare South constituency, cannot
access GMB maize or agricultural inputs and monthly stipends for
the elderly from the Department of Social Welfare. According to
her, she and other villagers who are suspected of belonging to the
MDC are not allowed to access these publicly funded resources as
the village head and Zanu PF members claim that "Zanu PF feeds
its own children and not opposition members" She stands accused
of not attending Zanu PF meetings. She said that "isu taka
kurira munguva yevarungu, munhu wese aiwana zvakamukwanira, kushanda
kwako badzi, hameno ndiko kutonga kwenyu vemazuva ano, tinofa ngenzara
gore rino" translated it means, ‘I grew up during colonial
times, at least then everyone had enough depending on your ability
to work. I am not sure, maybe this is how you the people of today
are running the country. We will all die of hunger and want this
year.’
The sentiments were echoed by 68 year
old retired school teacher Mrs. TM from Gonon’ono village who has
been denied to buy GMB maize and agricultural inputs. It is alleged
that the village head G, with help from Zanu PF activists FC, EG
and MM have been at the fore front of denying the elderly woman
her access to buy food. She is a widow and takes care of 10 dependents.
The village head reportedly threatened to confiscate her field and
give it to needy Zanu PF members if she continues supporting the
MDC.
Elderly men are also victims of the
system, 78 year old ED and TMM (79), from Muwangirwa and Gandira
villages in Mutare West both have been denied food, maize and other
forms of aid by Zanu PF activists, Headman M, CG, CM, GM and councillor
AGM. ED is the MDC ward chairman and feels strongly that this is
the reason why he is being punished. TMM says that his monthly allowance
from the department of Social Welfare has been stopped and had his
two bags of maize he had bought confiscated by Zanu PF activists.
They are very angry because "I
am a strong MDC member and even the Party President Morgan Tsvangirai
had lunch at my house. Now under those circumstances do you expect
them to extend their filthy hands to me?" he said in English.
Both men claim during interviews conducted at different places that
they are being forced to pay "mutero wemusoro" personal
tax even though they are over sixty five years as a form of punishment.
Ever Muhlanga Matsika, a handicapped
32 year old from Matsika village in Makoni west constituency says
that she was denied GMB food at Rusape and also in her village even
though she had the money to pay. She says she was pushed and had
derogatory words like "you disabled persons are a problem,
you are the supporters of MDC but you want food from Zanu PF so
you can resell." She says that M, a Zanu PF official asked
her why she does not attend Zanu PF meetings yet she is able to
"walk" to the maize selling point? She appealed to responsible
authorities to be responsive and sensitive to people with disabilities.
According to her, all economic, political and social facilities
in her area are not friendly to people with disabilities. The politicization
of these facilities and activities has dealt a heavy blow to her
and other vulnerable members of the community.
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fact sheet
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