About 35 tonnes of fertiliser and 20 tonnes of maize seed provided last year by the government under its farming inputs scheme is gathering dust at the hall under unclear circumstances.
There are already fears that the inputs, particularly fertiliser, have gone bad due to exposure to humid conditions.
Villagers who spoke to The Zimbabwean accused Nyoni, who is also the Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises, of deliberately keeping the inputs for her campaign gimmicks.
“Most people in Nkayi south failed to get access to the farming inputs last year yet the inputs are rotting in the hall. Our MP should stop personalising government programmes,” said Mailos Ncube, the MDC-T councillor for the area.
Ncube said Nyoni last month promised to distribute the inputs to Zanu (PF) supporters in the area before the rain season began.
“This is an abuse of this government scheme. Everyone is supposed to benefit from the inputs but only a few Zanu (PF) supporters are benefitting. The other problem is that the hall where the inputs are being kept is the place where Zanu (PF) holds its meetings and it is very difficult to get access,” said Ncube.
According to sources who have visited the hall, the fertiliser has dried up and has formed stone-like crusts because of the humidity.
“Most of the people here failed to get enough yields because of the unavailability of inputs. Now we hear government donated inputs are getting bad when the supposed beneficiaries are struggling. This very unfair,” said another villager.
When reached for comment, Nyoni said the farming inputs would be distributed in September this year.
“We are going to distribute the inputs before the rainy season in September. There is nothing sinister in withholding the inputs. The beneficiaries are aware of this arrangement and why do you want to speak on their behalf?” she said.
Post published in: Agriculture