Source: ZIMCIVINFO – in support of democracy, peace and civics in Zimbabwe

E-mail from Eddie Cross of the MDC to Victor Angelo, UNDP, about manipulation of food aid in Binga

Dear Victor

I spent two days in Binga - no sign of any food distribution from Save the Children Fund (UK) although Joel Gabbuza tells me that it was due to get underway today (21st November). I saw about 20 villages - all adults severely stressed, nearly all children suffering to some extent from malnutrition, some quite severe. All villages reported deaths - most not directly linked to food, but related. I witnessed people eating leaves from trees as well as roots and tubers from the bush and seeds off local trees. I only saw maize meal prepared in one village. We saw one adult man - about 45 years old, retrenched from his job in 1999 and now dying of HIV/Aids. He was a skeleton and I do not think he will live more than another few days. There were no protein foods at all in his village.

The GMB Manager confirmed the political distribution of food - in fact he said "we only sell food to Shona speakers". There were CIO and Presidents Office staff at the depot with what the Manager called "political elements".

I was told of petty corruption in the distribution of food from the Catholics - local feeding centers said they were not getting what they should be and there was talk of the staff selling some of the material (soap was mentioned). I also saw they were using dirty water for the preparation of the food for the children in many centers, although what you do about that I do not know.

I saw CIO/War Veteran/Militia activity in Binga and at Kamativi - the latter seems to be used as a major training and activity center. They were militant and threatening - when I spoke Ndebele they replied in Shona.

180 tonnes of maize at the GMB depot was damaged by rain three weeks ago and sold to locals without restriction. There was no food at all in the depot when I was there although the Manager said he should be getting 30 tonnes a week from Bulawayo.

All villages said they had no seed - no sorghum, no millet - this is very serious. Today I tried without success to buy seed in Bulawayo - seed of any kind and was told that there was none available.

Regards
Eddie Cross
21st November 2002.