×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Gokwe councillors clash with DA over food

Politics
MDC-T councillors in Gokwe South have approached district administrator (DA) Clemence Mudumwa accusing him of abusing food aid to prop up Zanu PF.

MDC-T councillors in Gokwe South have approached district administrator (DA) Clemence Mudumwa accusing him of abusing food aid to prop up Zanu PF.

Report by Blessed Mhlanga

In a petition dated February 25, and signed by six MDC-T councillors, Mudumwa is accused of conniving with the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to distribute food aid to over 10 000 villagers on partisan lines.

“We as councillors elected on an MDC-T ticket are unhappy over the unfair distribution of grain by both your office and the GMB. Your office has now started using Zanu PF structures and dubious special interest councillors to distribute grain in our wards,” reads part of the petition.

The councillors also accused the DA’s office of deliberately delaying the processing of beneficiaries’ names in all wards which were won by the MDC-T in the 2008 harmonised elections, while those in Zanu PF wards were done promptly.

“Your office is deliberately delaying the processing of names of beneficiaries in our wards, but in other wards, these lists are done on the same day,” reads the petition.

Councillor Newani Nyamazana, who also signed the petition, said Mudumwa should stop abusing food aid and government offices to further Zanu PF political interests.

“It is criminal for a civil servant to abuse food aid to further political party interests. People have a right to access food aid regardless of political affiliation. This is a crime against humanity,” said Nyamazani. Mudumwa confirmed receiving the petition from the MDC-T councillors, but refused to comment further saying he needed to consult first.

“They came to my office on Monday and handed over the petition in which they are demanding answers to allegations they are raising, but I will not say anything further until I finish consultations with my bosses,” said Mudumwa. Efforts to get a comment from GMB were in vain at the time of going to print last night.