News / National
Zanu-PF 'highjacks' Zhombe aid transportation, distribution
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The Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) has raised serious allegations that the transportation and distribution of food aid in Zhombe have been hijacked by Zanu-PF members, calling for urgent government intervention to address the issue.
In a statement, ACT-SA director Obert Chinhamo accused Zanu-PF members of lacking accountability and transparency in handling drought relief aid. Chinhamo claimed that villagers are being charged US$3 to receive free government-provided aid, with the money purportedly collected as transport costs.
"There are no clear lines of responsibility, resulting in the whole process being murky, lacking accountability, and hijacked by Zanu-PF members. There is a need for the government, through relevant bodies, to revisit ill-thought decisions allowing Zanu-PF to be involved anywhere near the distribution of drought relief," said Chinhamo.
The allegations specifically point to irregularities in wards 10 and 11, including areas such as St Andrews Shopping Centre and Gomola Clinic. Chinhamo called for the government to take over transportation costs, as was previously the case, to prevent further exploitation of villagers.
"Considering the abuses of the transport contributions, the government should take over transport costs. Law enforcement agents should investigate the allegations and take appropriate action against all those fingered in the abuses," he added.
Efforts to get a comment from the Midlands Zanu-PF spokesperson were unsuccessful. However, Kwekwe District Development Coordinator (DDC) Fortune Mupungu addressed the issue during a Zibagwe Rural District Council meeting on Tuesday.
Mupungu warned councillors and stakeholders involved in the drought relief program to refrain from corrupt practices, emphasizing that overcharging or exploiting villagers would not be tolerated.
"As we work on the drought relief program, councillors know that there are people who are watching. Let us not overcharge our people as the grain is being distributed. This is now becoming a serious situation. I will not mention the wards for now, but let us take heed of this call," said Mupungu.
The alleged misuse of drought relief aid, which is meant to alleviate the hardships faced by rural communities, has sparked outrage among villagers and civil society groups. Many fear that partisan interference in the distribution process undermines the program's objective of providing support to vulnerable populations.
ACT-SA has urged the government to take swift action to restore accountability and transparency in the distribution of drought relief. The organization also called for punitive measures against those abusing the system, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the needs of citizens over political interests.
The food aid program is critical for many rural communities in Zimbabwe, where drought and economic hardships have left large segments of the population struggling to access basic necessities.
In a statement, ACT-SA director Obert Chinhamo accused Zanu-PF members of lacking accountability and transparency in handling drought relief aid. Chinhamo claimed that villagers are being charged US$3 to receive free government-provided aid, with the money purportedly collected as transport costs.
"There are no clear lines of responsibility, resulting in the whole process being murky, lacking accountability, and hijacked by Zanu-PF members. There is a need for the government, through relevant bodies, to revisit ill-thought decisions allowing Zanu-PF to be involved anywhere near the distribution of drought relief," said Chinhamo.
The allegations specifically point to irregularities in wards 10 and 11, including areas such as St Andrews Shopping Centre and Gomola Clinic. Chinhamo called for the government to take over transportation costs, as was previously the case, to prevent further exploitation of villagers.
"Considering the abuses of the transport contributions, the government should take over transport costs. Law enforcement agents should investigate the allegations and take appropriate action against all those fingered in the abuses," he added.
Efforts to get a comment from the Midlands Zanu-PF spokesperson were unsuccessful. However, Kwekwe District Development Coordinator (DDC) Fortune Mupungu addressed the issue during a Zibagwe Rural District Council meeting on Tuesday.
Mupungu warned councillors and stakeholders involved in the drought relief program to refrain from corrupt practices, emphasizing that overcharging or exploiting villagers would not be tolerated.
"As we work on the drought relief program, councillors know that there are people who are watching. Let us not overcharge our people as the grain is being distributed. This is now becoming a serious situation. I will not mention the wards for now, but let us take heed of this call," said Mupungu.
The alleged misuse of drought relief aid, which is meant to alleviate the hardships faced by rural communities, has sparked outrage among villagers and civil society groups. Many fear that partisan interference in the distribution process undermines the program's objective of providing support to vulnerable populations.
ACT-SA has urged the government to take swift action to restore accountability and transparency in the distribution of drought relief. The organization also called for punitive measures against those abusing the system, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the needs of citizens over political interests.
The food aid program is critical for many rural communities in Zimbabwe, where drought and economic hardships have left large segments of the population struggling to access basic necessities.
Source - The Mirror
