Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
Zim GBC News has established that part of the maize that is being distributed in rural communities to alleviate starvation by the government of Zanu-PF is bad for human consumption.
On the 31st of May, we reported that the Government of Zanu-PF had sent out a begging bowl for assistance to feed about five million Zimbabweans who are facing imminent hunger because of the El Nino induced drought that affected the country’s rainfall patterns thereby contributing to lower or no yields at all in most areas who depend on the rain.
Addressing delegates at a gathering in Bulawayo, the Minister Minister Public Service and Social Welfare, July Moyo confirmed that the President had sent out an appeal to the international community seeking assistance for food aid.
At the meeting the Minister stated that the food deficit the county is facing was bound to affect both the rural and the urban folks.
Thereafter President Mnanganwa declared a state of disaster as food monitoring agencies reported that about five million people face food insecurity.
The Minister then explained to deligates that while Zimbabwe awaits donor funding for grain, the government would commence distribution of grain from strategic reserves from within the country.
Mitigation measures were drawn from the Strategic Grain Reserves, Isiphala seNkosi, which Minister Moyo said is owned by the President.
Moyo said the President had purchased the grain from farmers to augment the reserves.
“He has built it so that in times of disasters like this, he can make the people of Zimbabwe survive. The Siphala SeNkosi which the GMB is holding is not theirs, it belongs to the President.” Said Minister Moyo at the time.
Since then grain has been moved and distributed to the most affected areas with Binga villagers in Matabeleland North receiving 22,2 kg of grain and US$13 to sustain themselves in the coming few months.
It is a different story in Matabeleland South, Plumtree’s Mangwe area were allegations of rotten maize was distributed to hungry villagers.
Our source sent pictures of maize that was said to have been distributed by the Social Welfare. At close look, the grain does appear to have been affected by weavels.
“Villagers are not happy with the maize that they received from the Social Welfare department. It is rotten. It’s not fit for human consumption.” Said the source.
A villager from Mangwe who was attending the launch of the Gukurahundi Community Outreach program at the Bulawayo State House yesterday collaborated our source’s claims.
The villager whose name has been withheld said,
“Uhulumende usinikile usizo lokudla sibili olomumbu through Social Welfare, leSiphala seNkosi. Isimo somumbu wakuqala, owalethwa yi Social Welfare, abantu abanengi badiscover ukuba kungani wonakele sibili ungadleki.”
The government did give us grain through the Social Welfare Department as well as the Chief’s Granary Reserves. But the first batch from the Social Welfare was damaged and not fit for human consumption
The villager went on to say that grain which was delivered later on, in the past weeks was better and edible.
Zim GBC News tried to get confirmation from Chiefs from Mangwe area but could not locate them due to the busy schedule of the day.
On the sidelines of the launch program President of the Chiefs’ Council, Mtshana Khumalo told reporters that each Chief received 100 bags of 22.2 kgs on grain per ward to augment the grain from the Social Welfare.
Zim GBC News©2024