CHIVI Rural District Council chairperson, Killer Zivhu says Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti let down thousands of Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims and is now attempting to shift the blame to others.
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Chivi RDC is mobilising about 100 tonnes of maize for the over 18 000 people who were displaced by floods in February this year and are now settled in the Nuanetsi Ranch.
Bhasikiti was last week quoted in a daily paper accusing Zivhu of lying about the maize donation.
But speaking at Chivi RDC offices on Friday where he showed reporters the maize, Zivhu said Bhasikiti had done nothing for the flood victims.
“Apart from his ministerial duties, people know Bhasikiti for only donating oranges from a farm which he acquired from a white commercial farmer. That is the Bhasikiti that I know,” he said.
“It is unfair for Bhasikiti to say that all the 32 councillors lied, after all the efforts we have put to help the flood victims, most of whom hail from Chivi. Villagers here are struggling, given that this is a drought-stricken area, but they decided to share the little that they harvested.”
Zivhu, who was flanked by Chivi councillors, who also had unkind words for the minister, said the local authority had already raised almost 60 tonnes of maize, with more grain expected to arrive soon.
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“Councillors here were among the first to help the flood victims with clothes, food, exercise books and money to pay for scotch-carts hired to evacuate them, well before NGOS, the corporate world and other individuals chipped in,” he said.
He said a number of the affected flood victims were from his own ward.
“As councillors, we are working towards mobilising the maize for our brothers and sisters in Nuanetsi while Bhasikiti says we are lying. At present we have reached 60 tonnes of maize, but we are facing transport problems to get the donations here from the various wards, as well as sacks to pack the maize in,” Zivhu said.
“We handed some of the maize to the District Administrator Bernard Hadzirabwi and tasked him to look for transport. We challenge him [Bhasikiti] to send the trucks even today because as far as we are concerned, he sent the cars to a different Chivi RDC, not here.”
He said it was unfortunate that Bhasikiti was dragging the name of Zanu PF into disrepute, accusing the Provincial Affairs minister of personalising the flooding disaster in order to get political mileage.
“That is why the flood victims do not want to see him there,” said Zivhu.
Bhasikiti had to flee for his life twice at Chingwizi camp when villagers wanted to beat him, accusing him of lying to them.
Zivhu also accused Bhasikiti of lying to the flood victims by saying people would get five hectares each. They were eventually offered one hectare. Bhasikiti could not be reached for comment yesterday.
