MBERENGWA - Scores of villagers in Mberengwa West are up in arms with their local Zanu (PF) MP, Jorum Gumbo whom they accuse of swindling them.
In May this year villagers in the area were made to pay $10 each by Gumbo in order for them to access the Netone lines. After collecting the money Gumbo went to Harare, promising to secure the lines in two weeks time.
When the two weeks elapsed, we contacted the MP and he told us that the lines were scare and said we should be patient with him. What angered everyone is that the MP only resurfaced last month with the lines when everybody had already acquired the lines at US1 each, said Charles Hove, a teacher who contributed money towards the deal.
We feel cheated by the MP. He took our money in May and now he is refusing to give us the difference. What was he doing with our money all this time? We suspect he knew that the prices of the lines were going to go down and that is why he was doing these delaying tactics, said another villager who refused to be named for fear of victimization.
The villagers said when they demanded a refund they were told by Gumbos polling agent, Peter Sinyolo, that the MP was robbed of the money. This is not the first time that the Zanu (PF) chief whip has clashed with the villagers over monetary contributions in the constituency.
About three months ago, three youths in the area were recently severely assaulted by Gumbo after the youths accused the MP of abusing villagers money meant for rural electrification programme.
The three youths who are Trust Shoko, Menard Gumbo and Tafara Zhou were assaulted by Gumbo at Mupesi business centre where he runs a bottle Astore and a grocery shop. Efforts to get a comment from Gumbo were all in vain.
Post published in: News