Zanu PF Matabeleland leaders yesterday urged the Cabinet taskforce and banks charged with the disbursement of the $40 million Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf) to speed up the identification of beneficiaries.
Dimaf is a $40 million rescue package meant to help companies purchase equipment and raw materials to enhance their output.
It was launched by Finance minister Tendai Biti last October under the Let Bulawayo Survive campaign chaired by Industry and Trade minister Welshman Ncube.
However, the programme has been mired in controversy with some politicians and captains of industry accusing disbursing bank CABS of setting stringent pre-qualifications.
Yesterday, Zanu PF heavyweights met over the issue and resolved to pressurise the authorities to speed the process.
These included Matabeleland South governor Angeline Masuku, Matabeleland North governor Thokozile Mathuthu, Deputy President of the Senate Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises Sithembiso Nyoni, Public Service deputy minister Andrew Langa, politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu, among others.
“What was on the agenda today (yesterday) were the items to do with Dimaf. I gave a report on issues around Dimaf,” Mpofu said.
“Members of the party were anxious to know what is happening with the facility. They were concerned because of the continued closure of companies in Bulawayo.”
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Mpofu said party members were concerned that Dimaf had caused much hype in the media, but nothing was visible on the ground.
“Dimaf has not yet been disbursed to the satisfaction of those concerned, that is if at all it has been disbursed,” he said.
Mpofu said Zanu PF was concerned about Dimaf because it felt it was a result of its lobbying.
“This is the initiative of Zanu PF. Zanu PF has always been pushing for such facilities, starting with the distressed companies fund, which was distributed some time ago. followed by this one (Dimaf) which has not yet taken off. We are concerned about the lack of openness in its handling,” he said.
