BY STAFF REPORTER
Zanu PF members recently hijacked the presidential inputs distribution programme in some opposition Citizens Coalition for Change led wards in Manyame Rural District Council despite government’s proclamation in September that distribution committees are chaired by councillors.
This happened last week in ward 1 and ward 2 where Blessing Tangwara and Edmond Chako are respectively councilors.
In ward 1 Zanu PF shadow councilor Munyaradzi Kapanga took the lead and chanted party slogans, describing the inputs distribution exercise as a party event.
“VaMngangagwa Woyee. Pamberi neZanu PF! Pasi Nekuvhiringidzika! (Mr Mnangagwa Woyee. Forward with Zanu PF! Down with confusion!” he said to the people who were indifferent.
He said
“I see you’re struggling to make a slogan. As I stand here I am the face of Zanu PF in ward 1. So, I won’t be afraid to make a party slogan because this is a Zanu PF meeting,”.
he said
“The fertiliser that you see has come from our President Mnangwagwa (Emmerson Mnangagwa.) That gives me the confidence to speak about him in front of you. I have come to see if the inputs are going to the people rightfully,”
Said Munyaradzi Kapanga
“I don’t have much to say to you. When you’re given the inputs go and plant them. If we see the maize seed being sold at Chikwanha Market that shows lack of support to our president’s vision.”
Said Munyaradzi Kapanga
This was despite that on September 15, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement minister Anxious Masuka said during an all-councils indaba in Harare that: “We are changing the modus operandi to ensure that we nip corruption in the bud in the distribution of farming inputs. The councilor chairs the distribution committee at local level, the deputy is a chief’s appointee, Agricultural Extension (Agritex) will be the secretary and we have elevated headmasters to be deputy secretaries.”
Tangwara accused Kapanga of imposing himself on people who didn’t vote for him in 2018.
“The shadow councillor should not impose himself to the people who rejected him in 2018. He should wait for a change in 2023. Inputs are not for politicians but drought relief. After all it’s a government not a party programme,”
he said.
“Let’s adhere to government policies. He should not politick with something to do with drought relief and development. Government recognises me and he should leave me doing my job lest he mars the political party he represents.”
said Cllr Tangwara
Tangwara told Chaminuka News24 that prior the distribution he was warned by the Agritex area supervisor Esnat Mutandiwa against attending.
“There was noise. Didn’t you hear about it? There was a question that councillors play which role on inputs and it wasn’t clearly answered when we had a meeting at the district offices.”
Mutandiwa said in a call conversation.
Efforts to get a comment from her were futile as her phone wasn’t reachable.
Chako couldn’t even attend the distribution.
