Sacco, who is eyeing the Chimanimani Central constituency in the forthcoming elections, has told MDC-T councillors in Chimanimani Rural
District council not to engage the services of NGOs without first consulting Zanu (PF) leadership in the area.
The Chimanimani Central constituency was previously held by MDC-T’s Roy Bennett.
According to MDC-T councillors, Sacco, accompanied by Zanu (PF) war veterans and youth militia, is reportedly addressing council meetings where he is giving the directive.
A Project Manager with a local NGO operating in the area confirmed Sacco’s interference and said they were now not able to carry out their operations.
“We are facing problems in executing our core business. We have been victimised for working with MDC-T councillors as Zanu (PF) was claiming that we were sidelining the party in our operations. But, we deal with Chimanimani Rural District council in our entire
developmental project and it is not our fault that the council is dominated by MDC-T councillors. If Zanu (PF) had more councillors in the council then we were still going to engage them,” he said.
Another source from an NGO operating in the same area said: “It is unfortunate that the deserving community is being forced to suffer because of some few individuals. I think all the parties have to have some talks and iron
out such issues. But, I don’t think there is need to stop food aid distribution just because a certain party is not involved.”
NGOs operating in the area include Tsuro DzeChimanimani, Save the Children, Kellogg Foundation, Christian Care and Medicins Sans Frontier (MSF). Some said they might be forced to pull out if problems continued.
Post published in: News