During a visit to a MISA Zimbabwe community radio initiative meeting in Chief Chibero’s area, The Zimbabwean witnessed the order given by one of the chief’s aides, identified only as Mubaiwa.
“Muudze vamwe venyu vasina kuuya pano kuti vatsvage ma$6 (Carry the massage home and convey it to your colleagues that they should mobilise a monthly premium of $6 funeral policy per house hold for Nyaradzo Funeral Company. This will help you when you lose your loved ones)”, said Mubaiwa.
Villagers told him that it was difficult for them to raise the amount, to which he replied: “Munorima magarden motengesa muriwo (grow vegetables and raise the money)”.
Villagers told this reporter that village heads in the area were visiting them door-to-door giving them the same instruction.
Contacted for comment, the company’s Group Chief Executive, Philip Mataranyika, said Nyaradzo had only sought permission from local leaders to meet rural communities.
“We have trained agents who do the job. The traditional leaders are not employed agents of Nyaradzo. They are simply the point people that we approach when we get to the rural area, he said.
“As you know with a lot of good things there are always some bad things also, but we are saying to the people that our agents are out there. To traditional leaders who are giving us access to their communities we are very much appreciate. What we would not be happy with are people who misrepresent facts about what our policies do.”
He promised to send a team from his office to investigate the allegations. “We have taken note of these sad developments which you indicate are happening and we will give them our urgent attention,” Mataranyika added.
Post published in: News