Drama unfolds as people receive the presidential inputs in Mutanda Rural District Ward 34

By Staff Reporter

Mutanda Rural District witnessed dramatic scenes on Tuesday as villagers gathered to receive presidential agricultural inputs, with long queues, disputes over beneficiary lists and transportation costs.

Hundreds of residents from surrounding villages thronged Zvavanhu Secondary School as they receive fertilizer and other farming inputs. The inputs, part of the Presidential Inputs Scheme aimed at supporting smallholder farmers, attracted overwhelming turnout as the farming season approaches.

Tension rose when some villagers questions about the cost of transport and the number of fertilizers being shared among villages, leading to heated exchanges with local officials and party coordinators overseeing the programme. Several residents accused the officials of serious corruption and abuse of political positions. The most stressed question which remained unanswered was ” today we are sharing 2 bags per village out of the 100 bags and there are 36 villages , where are the other 28 bags going?”.

“Last time we paid $20 per village, to make it $720 out of the 36 villages in the ward. We would like to know how much is charged by the transporter per trip ” a villager who declined to be named asked.

Mr Matsakanure, one of the official responded saying that they paid $600 for the 200 bags of the previous trip and this raised tension as the people asked on the remainder of the $720. He further tried to explain some of the costs they met but it was not convincing to the beneficiaries.

However, the government through Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, during the 9th Parliament, said Government has since barred the collection of money from villagers to pay for transport cost on the delivery and collection of inputs.

The situation escalated as arguments broke out at the station. Mr Usvisvi, the Agritex officer escalated the tension when he started shouting at people. People became more angry when he uttered words that shows serious abuse of power. In his angry statements, he pointed out that no one can question the way things are done and no one can threaten him as he claims that the Minister of Agriculture is his in-law.

“If anyone is not happy with what we are doing he / she is free to leave this place.

Today it’s $10 per village and villages are getting 2 bags of fertilizers. Kana musingadi ibvai Pano hatina basa nazvo chero kufonera Mahachi (MP)”, Mr Usvisvi added.

His statements raised concerns among the people and some walked away in anger whilst some officials were trying to calm the situation.

Despite the disruptions, distribution resumed later in the afternoon with the majority of people walking away with small pockets of fertilizers and sweet beans. “We shared 1 bag as to 4 and two cups of beans per household so that everyone who attended from our village benefit“, an old man revealed.

The Presidential Inputs Scheme remains a critical intervention for food security in rural areas, particularly as many farmers continue to struggle with the effects of climate change and economic challenges. However, Tuesday’s events in Mutanda highlighted ongoing concerns over transparency and management in the rollout of the programme.

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