Military

DATE=10/23/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ZIMBABWE / HUMAN RIGHTS / FOOD (L O)

NUMBER=2-308998

BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU

DATELINE=NEW YORK

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 G-M-T / 8:01 PM ET Thursday ///

INTRO: A prominent international human rights monitoring group says international relief agencies are failing to prevent Zimbabwe's government from using food as a political weapon. From V-O-A's New York Bureau, correspondent Barbara Schoetzau has more on a new report by Human Rights Watch.

TEXT: The report charges authorities in Zimbabwe deny access to food to suspected supporters of opposition political parties. About half of Zimbabwe's population relies on food aid, mostly from the United Nations World Food Program.

Peter Takirambudde (tah keer am boo day), director of Human Rights Watch's African division, says the group found clear evidence of discrimination in the government's grain subsidy program.

/// TAKIRAMBUDDE ACT ///

This is particularly the case with reference to the food program which is run by the government whereby food is sold at subsidized prices.

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Zimbabwe scuttled an earlier plan to take over the distribution of international food relief programs after donor nations threatened to halt food assistance. But, according to the Human Rights Watch report, government authorities and members of the ruling African National Union-Patriotic Front continue to manipulate food delivery, particularly food relief provided by the World Food Program.

Mr. Takirambudde says W-F-P tries valiantly to to reach all needy Zimbabweans, but relief groups depend on local people to put together lists of the needy.

/// 2nd TAKIRAMBUDDE ACT ///

To receive food from the World Food Program you must be registered. You must be determined to be in need. At the point of registration there is manipulation. Those who are perceived as not being supporters of the government ruling party are unlikely to find their names on that list.

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The Human Rights Watch report also finds Zimbabwean authorities and some donor countries discriminate against Zimbabweans who were resettled under the government's controversial land reform program.

The New York-based human rights group says that Zimbabwe is obligated by international law to supply food to its people without discrimination and calls on the government to instruct authorities to compile lists of the needy on a non-discriminatory basis. The group also recommends that international donors continue to fight the politicization of food distribution and make sure need is the only factor used to determine food aid.

Officials at the Zimbabwe embassy did not respond to calls for comment on the report. (Signed)

NEB/NYC/BJS/KL/FC