Zanu PF Heavyweights, Security Details Celebrate Chipanga’s Demise as He’s Granted $400 Bail

By Shingirai Vambe

A dramatic turn of events unfolded as former ZANU PF youth leader, Kudzanai Chipanga, was granted $400 bail amidst accusations of stealing presidential inputs worth $11,200. In a surprising twist, Chipanga’s own allies within the party were seen celebrating his downfall, with some even calling for his detention.

According to reports, Chipanga distributed the presidential inputs, including fertilizers, maize seeds, and vegetable seeds, to farmers in Makoni District during a ZANU PF rally at Lawrencedale Primary School. However, prosecutors allege that Chipanga and his accomplices, still at large, diverted the resources for personal gain.

Beneficiaries of the presidential inputs, however, have come to Chipanga’s defense, praising his transparent approach to distribution. “We’ve seen many leaders take the inputs for themselves, selling them for personal gain. Chipanga’s approach was different – everyone who attended the rally received their share,” said Tapfumaneyi, a local farmer.

Another beneficiary, Gladys from Lawrencedale, echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that Chipanga’s actions were motivated by a desire to help the community. “He didn’t take the inputs for himself; he gave them to the people. This is more about politics than anything else,” she added.

The incident has sparked accusations that the governing party is politicizing presidential inputs, with some alleging that only supporters of the ruling party benefit from the scheme, despite being funded by taxpayer money. Furthermore, the controversy surrounding Command Agriculture, a government-backed farming program, has raised concerns about the mismanagement of public funds. According to reports, the government has lost an estimated $3 billion through Command Agriculture since its inception in 2016.

Critics argue that the program has been marred by corruption, inefficiency, and cronyism, with many beneficiaries being high-ranking officials and connected individuals. The alleged theft of presidential inputs by Chipanga has only added fuel to the fire, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in the distribution of public resources.