CHIMANIMANI - Scores of starving villagers in Biriiri ward have been allegedly swindled out of their money by a Zanu (PF) Manicaland Womens League member.
According to villagers, Mary Gaba, who lost her council seat in the 2008 elections, promised to get food aid for them from Christina Care, a relief organisation, in return for a payment.
Irate villagers told The Zimbabwean that Gaba has been going around collecting $1 from each household.
Immediately after Christian Care ceased to operate in the area around February this year, Gaba has been going around collecting money from the villagers, claiming that the money is for transporting the food aid from Mutare. The food has not come and now we are demanding our money back and she is refusing to give it to us, said Sam Mupakata, one of those who claim to have been swindled.
Last week, the villagers ganged up at a meeting held at the Manicaland Development Association (MDA) offices and confronted Gaba over the issue.
Gaba, who is closely connected to the former minister of water resources, Munacho Mutezo, is also alleged to have been soliciting protection fees from rural businessmen and MDC supporters, threatening them with violence if they do not pay up.
Speaking with The Zimbabwean from Mutare, a Christian Care official said it was not the policy of her organisation to make recipients of food aid pay anything.
Christian Care food aid is given free of charge to beneficiaries who are identified through our vetting system. I wish to stress that the vetting is not done by politicians or political parties, she said.
She advised all the villagers who had been cheated out of money to report the matter to the police.
Post published in: News