THE Government has come up with a tillage programme where
tractors will be dispatched through the District Development Fund (DDF) to till
at least one hectare per household to assist farmers whose draught power has
been affected by drought.
This comes amid concerns that some Agritex officers were
charging villagers about $10 per 10kg bag of maize seed distributed through the
Presidential Input Scheme. The concern was raised at the Matabeleland North
Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting held at Zanu-PF Lupane offices
yesterday.
Addressing the PCC members who included Politburo, Central
Committee and National Consultative Assembly members, the party’s Matabeleland
North provincial chair, Cde Richard Moyo, urged Members of Parliament to
identify needy villagers who lost cattle
due to drought.
“Because of the drought that has led to death of many
cattle, Government has tasked DDF to plough for people. We are going to launch
a tillage programme where each household will be getting at least one hectare
of land tilled. Tractors are coming and they will be doing between 20 and 30
households per day. As MPs lets go and mobilise farmers in preparation for
this,” said Cde Moyo.
He called for transparency in selection of beneficiaries.
About distribution of inputs, PCC members alleged that beneficiaries were being
made to pay before they collect their share of inputs which include maize seed,
fertiliser and chemicals. The inputs are delivered to the Grain Marketing Board
depots from where they are dispatched to various districts and wards. They are
monitored by Agritex officers.
“In terms of inputs, we have a challenge where Agritex
officers are making people to pay. As trucks get to the destination Agritex
officers who are the secretariat to the inputs distribution make people pay $10
per 10kg bag of seed,” said Cde Joseph Moyo, a war veteran.
However, Ndimimbili ward Councillor Fortune Ndlovu said the
money was for transport.
“Trucks are not reaching intended destinations hence people
are made to pay for the difference. In my ward they offloaded the inputs at
Gomoza and we had to look for transport from Manoti in Gokwe and villagers paid
$2 each while I topped up with $600 for transport,” he said.
Another member from Jambezi in Hwange District said
beneficiaries were also being made to contribute for fuel so that the inputs
can reach their areas. Cde Moyo who is also Minister of State for Matabeleland
North Provincial Affairs said he will look into the issue.
“We will engage Agritex because I think Treasury paid for
transportation of the inputs hence no one should be paying,” he said.
This is not the first-time concerns have been raised about
people being made to pay for inputs and grain distributed through Government
programmes. A fortnight ago legislators who attended the 2019 pre-budget
seminar in Victoria Falls expressed concern that some beneficiaries were
remaining with nothing after paying for transport using the same grain or seed
they would have been allocated.
During the week, Zimbabwe National Army Chief of Staff,
Quarter Master Staff, Major General Hlanganani Dube told traditional leaders at
the 2019 Provincial Commemoration of the Traditional Leaders’ Day in Hwange
that the army had availed its trucks to assist beneficiaries of inputs and
grain schemes.
The PCC was organised to launch a fundraising campaign
ahead of the party’s 2019 National People’s Conference to be hosted by
Mashonaland East in Goromonzi from 10 to 15 December. According to a circular
from the party’s head office, each province is expected to raise $500 000, five
head of cattle, five tonnes of mealie-meal, among other goods.
The province raised $40 000 through contributions by
members yesterday while the provincial chairman said letters of appeal had been
sent to well-wishers and various stakeholders to ask for donations. Seven buses
have been availed for the province while accreditation of members is set to
start this week.
Cde Moyo said funds had been availed to finish up capital
projects in the province. He said five boreholes will be drilled while 20 will
be rehabilitated in each constituency. Women’s clubs that ventured into bread
making projects will soon start work following delivery of 18 tonnes of flour
to the province, he said. Sunday News
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