Local councillors Edward Chitate of ward six, Caleb Mpupuni of ward 22, Pfeveni of ward seven and Crispen Hamba of ward eight have been accused by villagers of derailing government’s efforts to provide food and farm implements to those in need.
The above mentioned councillors, whose level of preferential treatment is growing by the day, maintain that beneficiaries of the government’s ‘Food for Work’ scheme in their wards should be Zanu PF card carrying members.
A tour by our humanitarian news crew in rural Shurugwi revealed that senior citizens, the disabled and non Zanu PF members are indeed being denied access to President Mugabe’s farming aid and social welfare food.
“Our lives are under threat. We are a community in danger of starving and should not be faced with the politicisation of food distribution. This is uncalled for. The unfair demand for villagers to produce a party card before receiving food or aid should be stopped with immediate effect,” said concerned villager Abiot Moyo.
However, the villagers are quite pleased with ward 21 councillor Simon Kamura who, after making headlines for the wrong reasons, has repented and is desisting from the partisan practice of fellow councillors. Moyo also gave Tongogara chairperson and Midlands councillor, Sheperd Mudhara a proverbial pat on the back for fair distribution practices.
On Tuesday some villagers bitterly criticised their councillor saying: “The government should not only care for members of the ruling party, but should protect all its citizens rights. We condemn those councillors who refuse to serve the people who do not belong to their party,” added Samuel Bhachi.
In an exclusive interview with this journalist, a worried Nyupi Nyasha castigated ward six councillor Edward Chitera for starving a nonagenarian only identified as Chambwe who resides near the Zvamatenga turn-off. He also reported food looting, partisan food distribution and massive parcelling of plots of land by the local councillor whom Nyupi claims is untouchable as he is one of Minister Kasukuwere’s sacred cows.
The current shortages of basic commodities are increasing the opportunity for corruption by people in strategic positions such as councillors, ministers and other government officials.
Contacted for comment, the Movement for Democratic Change of Midlands South’s, Munyaradzi Mutandavari said: “We have noted with equal concern the continued unfair distribution of food and aid by rural councillors in parts of Shurugwi and Zvishavane.â€
Surprisingly, President Robert Mugabe is on record as stating that no citizen will starve to death because of their political affiliation.
Post published in: Featured