The farm input scheme run by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is supposed to be supervised by elected ward councillors in consultation with the traditional leadership.
In Ward 20 in rural Marondera East, Zanu (PF) District Chairperson, Sheppard Zenda, told the traditional leadership and villagers at a meeting held at Nhowe Business Centre last week that Zanu (PF) structures, in conjunction with state security agents, would conduct the input distribution exercise.
Each beneficiary is expected to receive 10kg of maize seed and 50kg of fertilizer.
Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Paurina Mpariwa, said the input scheme should not be politicised as it was meant to benefit the vulnerable and less privileged members of the community.
She told The Zimbabwean: “Politicians must take their hands off the Government-run programme. Since the programme is run at ward level, the ward councillor and other local non-partisan stakeholders who can identify the needy are the ones who should be involved.”
Mpariwa said political parties must desist from seeking cheap political mileage out of government-funded projects.
When contacted for a comment, the District Administrator, James Chiwaru said: “The inputs scheme should be supervised by a committee composed of the ward councillor, headmen and other traditional leaders who know deserving beneficiaries.” Chiwaru said such schemes should indiscriminately benefit all deserving people regardless of political affiliation.
Post published in: News