OPPOSITION MP for Dzivaresekwa Edwin Mushoriwa says while the National Assembly has approved the ratification of the Protocol on the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security, the government has been insincere in cushioning citizens against the harsh economic environment and hunger.
NATHAN GUMA
The protocol seeks to strengthen social safety nets for African citizens by recognising social protection as a fundamental human right.
While Zimbabwe had signed the protocol in 2022, the country is yet to ratify — the final step a country takes to formally agree to be bound by its terms.
Zimbabwe has been in a socio-economic quagmire, that has been worsened by the El Niño-induced drought, which is set to see more than three million people food insecure.
In the National Assembly recently, Mushoriwa said that while the protocol is important, the Zimbabwean government has been insincere to ending shocks facing the people.
“This protocol was signed in 2022 and whereas I was complaining about the gap, in this case the gap is alright. What I just find a bit tricky is that whilst we need to make sure that we approve this treaty, I think when we signed, Zimbabwe should actually have taken some steps that show we have signed such a protocol which respects the social protection and social security,” he said.
Mushoriwa said the government’s insincerity in protecting citizens has been evident in its failure to provide sufficient funds in budgeting towards social welfare.
For instance, ZW$2.4 trillion was allocated towards social welfare in 2024, out of the ZW$58.2 trillion national budget.
This is equivalent to about 0.4% of the gross domestic product, 1.1 percentage points lower than the 1.5% global target.
“What I find queer is that since 2022, 2023, even the 2024 budget that we actually passed last December, there has been a down slide in respect to our budget as a country towards social protection and social security of our people.
“Whereas after signing, we should have seen a move by government towards realigning and making sure that there is allocation of sufficient resources, because it is not enough to just sign without the need to then walk the talk.”
“What we are doing in as much as we are supporting the ratification of this treaty but what we now expect is government to urgently walk the talk in respect to making sure that our people are protected. Today, and I say this being an MP that represents a high-density suburb where most of the people are living beyond the poverty datum line, where most of our people require protection and assistance from the state.”
Mushoriwa said while aid has over the years been given to the vulnerable, it has in several instances failed to reach its intended recipients.
“The ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare have, in the recent past, been delinquent in failing to provide the necessary resources and this is going to be made worse given the current drought situation that we find ourselves in,” he said.
“Drought does not just affect the rural set up. It affects each and every person in Zimbabwe, including those people that are staying and living in the urban set up.
“My request to the honourable minister is to simply say that we should make sure that once we rectify, once we have signed any protocol and in this case the African Charter on the Social Protection and Social Security, it should also be accompanied by a move by the government in that right direction, rather than to have a situation where we sign and then we see our budget in respect to social security going down, sliding down”
In response, Zanu PF legislator for Gokwe Kabuyuni Spencer Tshuma said the government has been doing well in cushioning citizens.
“Firstly I would like to commend the government of Zimbabwe for being part and parcel of such an important piece of legislation,” he said.
“Needless to say that our government has walked the talk of protecting its citizens throughout the period, especially at the beginning of the Second Republic. We must be cognizant to the fact that there have been a lot of hindrances that have come our way, but government has been seized from day one to make sure that our people are not left vulnerable.
“Even right now as we experience the phenomenon of El Niño, we have seen government going out of its way to source for food to make sure that no one goes hungry and the President of Zimbabwe Comrade Mnangagwa has come out openly to say that no one is going to be hungry during this whole disastrous period and while he has said that, he has not only said it by word, he has said it by action as well as we have seen government going out and making sure that they are providing grain for the vulnerable.”
The government has in the past said conflicting statements on Zimbabwe’s food security status.
For instance, in March, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi stated that the government would not hastily declare the El Niño-induced drought a state of disaster, as it was food self-sufficient.
However, in April, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the drought state of national distaster, appealing for US$2 billion in aid.
In Febraury, Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka said the country is food secure, at a time when regional neighbour Zambia had banned maize exports to ensure available stocks are reserved for its people.
“The nation is informed that a total of 3 027 559 hectares was planted to crops during the 2023/2024 summer season, out of the targeted 3 674 000 hectares. Of the total planted area, 1 676 274 hectares was planted to maize, 362 541 hectares to sorghum, 141 169 hectares to pearl millet, and 271 823 hectares to groundnuts,” Masuka told a post-cabinet briefing in February.
“A cumulative 2 283 272 metric tonnes of maize and 271 623 metric tonnes of traditional grains is expected from the planted area.
“Zimbabwe consumes 2.2 million metric tonnes of maize/traditional grains (1.8 metric tonnes for food and 400 000 for stockfeed). This translates to 6 027 metric tonnes daily, with 4 931 metric tonnes going towards human consumption. The monthly human consumption requirement is 150 000 metric tonnes.”
