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Masvingo Bureau
Some villagers in Chiredzi District have clashed with the Masvingo political leadership over the distribution of grain to be produced under the revived winter maize project in the Lowveld. This comes amid growing fears that projected yields might not be met owing to sabotage by some elements in the district.
At least 1 000 tonnes of maize are expected to be harvested from the winter maize project in Triangle, where Lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Hulett planted nearly 330 hectares of maize to ease food shortages in Masvingo.
The revival of the winter maize project in the Lowveld this year followed an appeal by former Masvingo Governor and Zanu-PF secretary for production and labour Cde Josaya Hungwe to Tongaat Hulett to grow winter maize under irrigation and mitigate effects of last farming season’s crippling drought.
However, there are fears that yields from the project might not achieve the intended objectives as villagers living in areas around the winter maize fields are reportedly stealing the maturing cobs.
The Chiredzi West community, where the winter maize fields are located, is reportedly not happy that produce from the project would not be exclusively for people in the area.
They have since started descending on the maize fields, stealing green mealies, raising fears that only a small hectarage will be left by the time the crop is ready for harvest.
While Tongaat Hulett has reportedly beefed up security around the winter maize fields, daring villagers are reportedly stealing the maize at night.
Chiredzi West House of Assembly representative Cde Darlington Chiwa recently confirmed that villagers in his constituency were bitter about the planned distribution of the winter crop upon harvest.
“There is a justified feeling by people in my constituency that they will not benefit anything from the winter maize project despite the fact that it was carried out on their area. There is lack of clarity from the leadership over how the grain will be shared upon harvesting,’’ he said.
Cde Chiwa said it was better if the leadership of the province had come forward and clearly stated how the maize was going to be shared.
“That lack of clarity on the distribution of the maize is the reason why locals do not have ownership of the project and are resorting to stealing green cobs,’’ he added.
Cde Chiwa said projected yields from the winter maize project might not be met unless the Masvingo political leadership quickly addressed the problem of how the maize would be shared.
“The people of Chiredzi know from experience that such projects will not benefit them at all. Produce from similar projects never benefited them and they feel they will also lose out again this time,’’ he added.
However, Cde Hungwe rubbished concerns by the villagers in Chiredzi West saying it was his prerogative to choose who should benefit from the winter maize.
“It is my idea (the winter maize project). Government challenged leaders to come up with ideas on how to mitigate hunger in their areas and I approached Tongaat Hulett for assistance to revive the winter maize project,’’ he said.
“We cannot say at this moment the maize will be for the people of Chiredzi District alone or the entire province of Masvingo. We will sit down and decide what to do with the maize but the crop cannot be claimed by people from one district,’’ he added.
Cde Hungwe said maize from similar projects in the past was distributed to all parts of the country that were in dire need of food assistance owing to hunger.
The winter maize project was revived this year after it was first carried out by Tongaat Hulett in the 1990s upon the request of Cde Hungwe, who was then Masvingo governor, after a severe drought that hit the entire country.
Online Reporter
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