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'I did not loot Mnangagwa's rice, ZBC is my witness,' ZANU-PF MP
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Thousands from Mbare constituency are up in arms with their legislator, Martin Matinyanya who allegedly stole three tonnes of rice from President Emmerson Mnangagwa's Christmas donation meant to rescue starving urban populace.
Disgruntled groups from the constituency claimed that only a tonnage (from 4 tonnes given to Matinyanya for distribution) has been distributed to few people at Mai Musodzi Hall whilst the rest vanished.
"Our Member of Parliament was evasive when quizzed on the whereabouts of the other remaining three tonnes. The rice was supposed to be distributed amongst people from the constituency, but he diverted three tonnes to personal use," representative from one of the group said.
"What we only need is our rice because the MP starved us on Christmas day and we don't think the President knows that the constituency only scrambled and stampeded for a mere tonne of rice out of four," the leader said.
"Information we gathered so far exposed that Matinyanya sold three tonnes of rice. We have evidence that the rice was sold and repackaged and some of it flooded temporary Mbare market stalls," another member from another group claimed.
Meanwhile, Matinyanya was evasive when contacted to comment on the alleged loot describing the claims as mere infighting within ZANU-PF.
"There was no rice which was looted my brother, but jealous and infighting within the party in the wake of forthcoming District Coordinating Committee elections. Its politics at play my brother," Matinyanya said.
The evasive Matinyanya claimed everything was done in transparency and cited Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's (ZBC) presence for coverage during distribution as the testament that nothing was looted.
"There were journalists from ZBC and they reported that everything was done successfully. I will share ZBC clips with you where they reported that they witnessed distribution of the whole rice tonnages and surely, ZBC is my witness," Matinyanya claims.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa donated four metric tonnes of rice and allocated them amongst 360 Members of the National Assembly and Senate for further distribution to starving citizens.
Just recently, Zanu-PF legislator, Wiriranai Muchemwa and councillor Knowledge Chipindu were arrested for allegedly stealing 40 tonnes of food aid worth US$12 000.
Disgruntled groups from the constituency claimed that only a tonnage (from 4 tonnes given to Matinyanya for distribution) has been distributed to few people at Mai Musodzi Hall whilst the rest vanished.
"Our Member of Parliament was evasive when quizzed on the whereabouts of the other remaining three tonnes. The rice was supposed to be distributed amongst people from the constituency, but he diverted three tonnes to personal use," representative from one of the group said.
"What we only need is our rice because the MP starved us on Christmas day and we don't think the President knows that the constituency only scrambled and stampeded for a mere tonne of rice out of four," the leader said.
"Information we gathered so far exposed that Matinyanya sold three tonnes of rice. We have evidence that the rice was sold and repackaged and some of it flooded temporary Mbare market stalls," another member from another group claimed.
Meanwhile, Matinyanya was evasive when contacted to comment on the alleged loot describing the claims as mere infighting within ZANU-PF.
"There was no rice which was looted my brother, but jealous and infighting within the party in the wake of forthcoming District Coordinating Committee elections. Its politics at play my brother," Matinyanya said.
The evasive Matinyanya claimed everything was done in transparency and cited Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's (ZBC) presence for coverage during distribution as the testament that nothing was looted.
"There were journalists from ZBC and they reported that everything was done successfully. I will share ZBC clips with you where they reported that they witnessed distribution of the whole rice tonnages and surely, ZBC is my witness," Matinyanya claims.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa donated four metric tonnes of rice and allocated them amongst 360 Members of the National Assembly and Senate for further distribution to starving citizens.
Just recently, Zanu-PF legislator, Wiriranai Muchemwa and councillor Knowledge Chipindu were arrested for allegedly stealing 40 tonnes of food aid worth US$12 000.
Source - Byo24News