Villagers in Murewa South constituency have accused the local MP, Nyasha Masoka (ZANU PF), of diverting bags of fertiliser to traditional leaders that were meant for them.
Reports suggest that more than 55 village heads were given 8 bags each to use next season for the Zunde RaMambo programme.
The fertiliser was distributed to the village heads on 24 March two days before the by-elections.
Villagers took to social media platforms, saying they expected the fertiliser to benefit communal farmers in Wards 19, 20 and 21. Said one of the villagers:
There is a consignment of fertiliser that was delivered at Dombwe and we do not know how it was distributed. There was no transparency.
We hear the village heads were given the bags of fertiliser, and the question is why. Are these village heads the only ones who vote for ZANU PF?
Masoka on Friday confirmed distributing the fertiliser only to the traditional leaders but denied vote-buying allegations. He said:
This was not the presidential input or the command agriculture. It was for Zunde Ramambo, not for the other villagers.
If it was meant for the wards it could have been given to the sitting councillors, not an MP.
Chiefs are not the only ones who vote. Voting is done secretly and people decide who they want.
Masoka replaced the late Joel Biggie Matiza who succumbed to COVID-19 in 2021.