‘Chiefs should not queue for inputs’

Blessings Chidakwa Mash West Correspondent
Government has directed that all farming inputs for chiefs in Mashonaland West under the Presidential Input Scheme and Command Agriculture should be delivered to their homesteads. Addressing Zanu-PF party members during the Provincial Co-ordinating Committee meeting in Chinhoyi recently, Minister of State for Mashonaland West Province Cde Webster Shamu said as part of the country’s culture, traditional leaders had to be accorded the respect they deserved.

“It denigrates the office of chiefs to make them stand in queues together with their subjects. That is not part of our culture. It is important that chiefs receive their inputs at home instead of standing in queues,” he said.

“We have liaised with the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) that they should deliver their inputs straight to their homesteads.” Cde Shamu also expressed displeasure in the manner in which Agritex officers were distributing the inputs.

“We have received complaints that some party members are failing to get inputs after working hours and others were being harassed at the Agritex offices, this should end. We will make sure that we put in place mechanisms that everyone benefits from the Presidential Inputs Scheme and Command Agriculture,” he said. Cde Shamu last week said the privilege accorded to chiefs was also going to be extended to the elderly people in the province.

“Just like our chiefs, all the elderly in our society should also not stand in queues. They should receive their inputs at home or even at nearby places,” he said. Lands and Rural Settlement Minister Douglas Mombeshora also noted that people should not fight for the Presidential Inputs as Government had secured enough for the whole nation.

“Our Government did a feasibility study and found out that there are approximately than 1,8 million households in need of the Presidential inputs, including those from urban centres. So there is no need for farm ownership proof or letters as every household is entitled to receive these inputs,” he said.