Villagers in Bindura South constituency have accused Zanu PF officials in the area of hijacking and politicising the government inputs scheme.

What is irking most villagers is the fact that nurses at Nyava Clinic have now traded their noble profession for politics. The nurses, Evelyn Chipikiri and the sister-in-charge of the clinic only identified as Goredema are working with a self-proclaimed war veteran and Zanu PF ward chairperson Archibald Mugabe to campaign using government agricultural inputs.

Initially, village heads co-ordinated and disbursed the inputs without any problems until the three activists threatened them and advised them that the scheme was a Zanu PF programme which was supposed to be administered by party members.

This has resulted in perceived MDC sympathisers, widows and the elderly failing to benefit from the initiative. Only those aligned to Zanu PF are benefiting.

A villager who identified himself as Munaku described what he witnessed:

“On 6 February 2012, Agricultural Research and Extension (AREX) officers were summoned by their district AREX officer, Zhoya to collect fertiliser for the ward in Bindura. Chipikiri left her duty and followed the AREX officers.

“In Bindura, Chipikiri instructed Zhoya never to hand over inputs to the AREX officers without blessings from Mugabe or herself. Sadly, the confusion forced the AREX officers to report back empty-handed and that inconvenienced villagers who had spent the whole day anxiously waiting for the fertiliser.”

“Resultantly, villagers’ hopes of a sound harvest are gradually evaporating as their continued restriction to access government inputs perpetuate,” said Munaku while urging the Grain Marketing Board Chief Executive, Mr Albert Mandizha to investigate the matter and immediately take corrective action.

When contacted for comment, the MP Bindura South, Hon. Bednock Nyaude confirmed the story.

“It is true that what you are saying took place. Apart from the nurses and Zanu PF supporters implicated, there is also Ms Muchenje, another AREX officer who is involved in the partisan distribution of the inputs. The matter has been taken up with JOMIC and we are waiting for its intervention,” said Hon. Nyaude.

Meanwhile, Munaku urged the Ministry of Health to move in and make sure the nurses stick to their mandate before standards deteriorate due to neglect.

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