“A lot of our politicians are liars. They tell lies when they donate fertiliser or seed to struggling communal farmers in our rural areas, said the official, who cannot be identified for professional reasons.
“In fact, they do not tell them the truth that the seed is not meant for their particular area. Sometimes it is the wrong type but they donate it anyway just to please the farmers in order that they vote for them. This increases when there are elections coming up, because they then know that they could be guaranteed votes. This makes our job as technical extension officers very difficult because we then have to go and explain to the poor farmers that the seed or fertiliser donated to them is the wrong type. This is very bad indeed.”
Several politicians, especially from the former ruling party, Zanu (PF), regularly visit rural areas with tonnes of fertiliser and seed to try and win the communal farmer votes.
President Robert Mugabe is understood to have a “special allowance” from his party for him to donate seed and fertiliser especially to poor communal farmers.
Last year the Government of Zimbabwe banned Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from donating anything to the poor saying they were doing this on behalf of the opposition, then the MDC-T party under Morgan Tsvangirai.
The ban has now, however, been removed but donations are still being done under ground by the NGOs.
The Agritex boss was giving evidence at a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) meeting in the capital, Harare held to discuss the Early Warning Figures for the country’s Food Security for 2011.
It was attended by more than 20 NGO bosses based in Harare who deal with food security issues at their workplaces. It was also attended by FAO bosses based in Harare.
Post published in: News