The coalition government set up committees at village level in an attempt to thwart the use of food aid as a political weapon, as has been the case for many years now – particularly towards election time. Villagers all over the country are routinely required to produce Zanu PF membership cards before accessing various government programmes.
But under headman Kennedy Rusere, village 13 under Chief Nyashanu in Buhera, has a committee that is consulted before any distribution takes place.
“We have a committee that I consult and we agree before distribution. I get maize from the Grain Loan Scheme that I then equally distribute among those that are desperate. Everyone is desperate but there are some who are worse off, so we discuss as a community who should get food based on the level of need,” he said.
“l am yet to see any favouritism when there is hunger like this. It pains me to see my subjects dying from hunger – so we distribute fairly.”
Post published in: News