CommuTalk Reporter
LOWER GWERU – Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Midlands Owen Ncube has instructed legislators, councilors and other officials not to interfere in the Zunde Ramambo grain meant for starving rural families.
Speaking during the Midlands provincial launch of the Zunde raMambo/Isiphala seNkosi programme at Chief Bunina Chisadza’s homestead in Lower Gweru, Minister Ncube said stern measures would be taken against anyone caught abusing the facility.
Ncube was particularly concerned about officials who sell the grain to unsuspecting villagers.
He said grain under the programme, where chiefs will receive five metric tones of grain per ward was entirely under the jurisdiction, management and control of traditional leaders.
“This grain is not for councillors, Members of Parliament or other officials and any undue influence will not be tolerated.
“This grain will be distributed to people at no cost to beneficiaries and we do not want to hear that beneficiaries have been made to pay,” he said.
The programme is meant to make sure that there is grain available close to the people to cater for members of the community in dire need.
“District Development Coordinators, together with their district drought relief committees should ensure the distribution is efficient, fair, transparent and beneficial to the most vulnerable households among them the elderly, persons with disabilities, orphaned and child-headed households and the chronically ill,” he added.
Chiefs Bunina Chisadza and Gambiza applauded the government for coming with the initiative as several families were already in need of relief aid.
The chiefs said the programme would help several households that do not have anywhere to fall to as their crops wilted under the continued dry spell.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the current El Nino-induced drought a state of national disaster on April 3 this year, which prompted the government to take urgent and decisive mitigatory action to alleviate hunger.
