Mlondolozi Ndlovu
A local councilor for ward 28, Edmore Masiya, in Chipinge South has been accused for conniving with the local traditional leadership to ‘loot’ maize that was meant for hungry villagers on Friday, Zim Sentinel has learnt.
The chief who allegedly who with Masiya in this corrupt scam is Tobias Garahwa.
The government through its drought relieve scheme is distributing maize in the country’s hunger striken districts, but they has been no joy for poor villagers from Garahwa and Mabee villagers in Chipinge.
Villagers who spoke to this writer on conditions of anonymity confirmed the incident saying the Chief Mapungu got 10 , 50 kgs bags of maize whilst some of the villagers got nothing from.
“It is true some of us did not get anything from the distribution, but the councilor turned us away from the event whilst the Chief got himself 10 bags which were 50kgs each” said a villager from Mabee village who preferred anonymity.
The maize which was distributed on Friday last week was also politicized with some of the intended beneficiaries being accused of being opposition elements.
“Things are tough this side and some of us are hungry such that we cannot even be able to send our kids to school because of hunger. However we were denied access to the maize meant for us because we are associated with MDC.” said Peter Muyambo of Garahwa village.
But the councilor Edmore Masiya distanced himself from the incident saying all the maize was distributed fairly and no one had been discriminated.
Efforts to get a comment from Chief Tobias Garahwa were fruitless as his phone rang unanswered.
