Mat North officials ‘divert’ food aid

VILLAGERS in Ward 8 in Umguza District, Matabeleland North are not happy with the way drought relief maize is being distributed alleging some officials were diverting the food meant for the people into the black market.

The villagers told Sunday News during a visit to the area last week that despite following all the registering procedures, they were denied access to the food under unclear circumstances.

The villagers from Mfazimithi said out of a total of 10 households that had registered to be allocated 50 kilogramme bag of maize each, only three benefited but no explanation was given.

“On 19 July 2016 when the maize was delivered in our area we were told that each household is entitled to a 50kg bag of maize.

“I was one of the people who arrived early in the morning and I registered on the list but to my surprise my name was not called out,” said Mrs Sehliselo Ndlovu, one of the villagers.

She said on inquiring, the villagers were told that they could not receive their allocation since the form that had their names got lost.

“The man who was calling out names told us that the form where we wrote our names was missing,” said Mrs Ndlovu.

The villagers alleged that even their village head distanced himself from the anomalies claiming that everyone had received their share of maize.

“I personally asked our village head, he told us that everyone got his or her share and no one should be complaining. He did not even listen to what we had to say,” said another villager who asked not to be named, fearing victimisation.

Sunday News also managed to interview officials from the Department of Social Welfare who claimed that the distribution was done above board.

The officials claimed the maize was delivered on 19 July 2016 and 1 000 bags were distributed in the area.

“The number of maize that we distribute is determined by the list that is given to us by the chiefs and in this case we had 1 000 bags for the villagers. Some of the villagers were told to pay $2 which was meant for transport,” said the official.

The ward councillor, Sisa Moyo also refuted the allegations saying she was the one responsible for the distribution of maize in the ward and no one had made a report pertaining to the irregular distribution of the grain.

“Those people are lying. I was responsible for maize distribution in my ward and nothing was said or reported on the irregular distribution of the maize. Don’t listen to them, they just want to mislead you,” said Clr Moyo.