Exiled former cabinet Minister Patrick Zhuwao has blasted the president and called him petty and accused him of putting lives at risk, Newsday reports.
Zhuwao who lost his farm after the government withdrew his offer letter this week said the government forgets that they had also invested personal funds in their projects.
Said Zhuwao:
Despite the fact that we made personal investments that have significant impact on contributing towards food security, it is sad that Mnangagwa’s pettiness is putting people’s lives at risk of famine
We financed the operations from bank loans which we consistently paid back despite the various disturbances that l encountered. We have over 1 000 overhead sprinkler units which can irrigate 150 hectares.
We also invested in centre pivot irrigation equipment for 187,5 hectares. Due to the continuous requirements for electricity during tobacco curing, we have 230 KVA standby power generation capacities.
We were so successful in terms of quality stock that we won Zimbabwe Agricultural Society prizes for the best beef cow in 2012, second best beef cow in 2016, and second beef bull in 2012.
On the tobacco front, we were amongst the pioneers of hydroponic floating tray technology for tobacco seedling production. We became so competent at this technology that the Tobacco Research Board would regularly visit us to see what innovations we were working on. We even had a technical delegation visit us from Iran to learn about tobacco seedlings production using deep water culture hydroponics.
Zhuwao has been in self-imposed exile in South Africa since the 2017 November coup that ousted his uncle Robert Mugabe from power.
More: Newsday