Kasukuwere reads riot act on distribution of food aid

Government's effort in securing food to ameliorate the effects of drought should not be in vain due to selfishness by some political and community leaders, Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere has said.

Speaking at the Mhondoro-Mubaira by-election campaign launch at Mubaira Growth Point on Wednesday, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said helpless villagers should not be made to suffer because of connected political and community leaders' corruption in the distribution of aid.

"We are saying distribution of food relief or anything that comes from Government should be done in a transparent way and deserving people should get what is due to them," said Kasukuwere.

"This means we have to look at the disadvantaged in the communities, child headed families and so forth. Lets not allow those in leadership to take advantage of those who cannot stand for themselves."

This follows complaints in a briefing that some councillors were taking the bulk of the aid for themselves and their close relatives at the expense of the disadvantaged.

He said no one should starve and called on the leaders to ensure that they identify families in need of food assistance.

In apparent reference to the People First Movement which has been highlighted in the private media, he said a party cannot be sustained on the foundations of desire and frustration without a cause that resonates with the masses.

"There is no other party in the country that has the love of the people at heart than Zanu-PF. People now have farms here in Mhondoro.

"If it was not a strong party we will not have expelled people like Nguni (Mr Sylvester). We are Zanu-PF and we do not keep trash within our ranks," he said.

Kasukuwere said Zanu-PF is not a party of unfulfilled promises as it has delivered on promises to liberate the country and distribute land to the black majority.

The by-election slated for March 5 pits Zanu-PF candidate Engineer George Gangarahwe against little known Freedom Front Party candidate Rodwell Nyanganya.

The seat fell vacant following the ouster of Mr Sylvester Nguni from Zanu-PF and subsequent recall from Parliament for pursuing factionalism and being part of Dr Joice Mujuru's cabal.

Kasukuwere said the Zanu-PF candidate should work with the Mhondoro-Mubaira community without discriminating against the poor and elderly.

The launch was also attended by Politburo members Cdes Patrick Zhuwao, Edna Madzongwe and Central Committee members including Cdes Phillip Chiyangwa and Phineas Makumbe among others.

Members of Parliament from the province Cdes Dexter Nduna, Kindness Paradza, Jennifer Mhlanga and Adrian Musiiwa also attended.