Politicisation of presidential agricultural inputs must stop

THE politicisation of presidential agricultural inputs in Zaka district has been a persistent issue. Community members who spoke to Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (Cotrad) indicated that the selection of beneficiaries and distribution of presidential agricultural inputs was done along partisan lines.

In Zaka Central constituency ward 8, community members have reported an incident of politicisation of presidential agricultural inputs at Murerekwa Primary School.

The community members highlighted that the elected ruling party officials presided over the unfair and politicised input distribution process. Their concerns were that the agreed selection criteria of the beneficiaries and distribution of aid was abandoned which involves the inclusion of the local committees and the public officials in consultation with the community members.

The agreed criteria on the selection and distribution of aid also states that, the distribution process should target the intended beneficiaries without political considerations.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the community members said, there is a need to involve the public officials, local committees and the general citizenry starting from the selection process up to the distribution point for transparency and accountability purposes.

The unfair and partisan distribution of aid and other resources is cancerous to social unity, peace and development, therefore, as Cotrad we expect community members and public officials to respect leadership hierarchy and protocols in community development processes.

Cotrad also urges community members to peacefully and fearlessly engage their public officials on various community issues and concerns.