Mugabe inputs spark row

By The NewsDay | Nov. 30, 2012 | 2 Min read

A row has erupted among villagers in the Solusi area of Bulilima East constituency over President Robert Mugabe’s farming inputs scheme after some Zanu PF senior ward members allegedly sidelined their MDC-T counterparts.

BULILIMA — A row has erupted among villagers in the Solusi area of Bulilima East constituency over President Robert Mugabe’s farming inputs scheme after some Zanu PF senior ward members allegedly sidelined their MDC-T counterparts. Report by Silas Nkala

MDC-T Bulilima East district spokesman William Ncube told NewsDay yesterday that the clashes occurred on Tuesday after the ward received two tonnes of maize seed.

“We have been getting the Presidential inputs all along, but this time we were surprised when the Zanu PF officials, including the councillor Vusumuzi Moyo, told the villagers that the inputs under the scheme were for Zanu PF members only,” Ncube said.

“He told us that MDC members were not entitled to the inputs.” Moyo was unreachable on his mobile phone yesterday.

The MDC-T official said Zanu PF members claimed the directive had come from the President’s Office.

“A handful of Zanu PF supporters shared the maize seed among themselves.We want to know if it is true that the President said people from other parties must not get the inputs,” Ncube said.

“We do not want to be seen jostling for something which we are not supposed to get.We are not so desperate. But we want this issue to be clear. If it’s truly for Zanu PF, why would we meddle in Zanu PF things?”

Ncube said since Mugabe launched the programme, the inputs had never been distributed along party lines.

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The village head in the area, Meki Ndlovu, confirmed the incident saying his wife attended the meeting where MDC-T members were denied access to the inputs.

“I hope as they have taken it (the issue) as far as Bulawayo, it will be resolved,” he said.

“People here used to get the maize seed all along and what happened this time around surprised us. Although I got the inputs as a village head, the MDC members were not given and they have since complained to me over the issue.”