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IN our issue of The Herald yesterday we carried a story in which it was reported that 30 tonnes of maize seed donated to farmers in Mashonaland West Province by the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, last week, had been stolen.
The donation was made under the Presidential Well Wishers Inputs Support Scheme to assist beneficiaries of the land reform programme, particularly communal and A1 farmers, with seed and fertilisers.
Dr Mugabe disclosed the theft at another rally in Gweru on Monday this week, the second leg of her Thank You Tour, where she donated more maize seed.
What we found most shocking about the Chinhoyi incident was that the theft was perpetrated soon after the donation, pointing to two obvious possibilities: that this was an inside job and that the offence was committed by a senior official in the party.
Dr Mugabe said she knew the culprit and would ensure the maize seed was returned so that it could go to deserving cases.
The least we can say is that as a country we need to adopt a culture of naming and shaming. This kind of despicable behaviour needs to be exposed for what it is; a combination of greed and sabotage.
It’s fuelled by greed because we cannot understand why a senior party official should steal what is meant to benefit the poor. If he cannot afford seed for his own farm, it is still greed. Why keep a huge farm if he can’t use it productively without stealing?
There is also an element of selfishness where the official or officials involved in this theft think only of themselves rather look at the common good. In the past such donations have landed on the illegal black market where they are sold at extortionate prices.
We are also inclined to see an element of sabotage in light of the fact that the Presidential Well Wishers Inputs Support Scheme is funded by well-wishers who want Zimbabweans to be able to feed themselves. They also wish to see the land reform succeed.
Reports of theft of these donations can only serve to discourage those who wish the programme well. Tomorrow they will think twice before they make a contribution, fearing a repeat. That is why it is vitally important that those involved are exposed and punished. They are saboteurs.
More than just saboteurs, they give the country a very bad name; not only are we unable to produce enough food to feed ourselves but we are prepared to steal what has been donated by well-wishers. This is a shame. That is why we wish the First Lady had been able to name and shame those involved regardless of their status in the party.
Dr Mugabe said the thief took the maize seed to his constituency for distribution to potential voters. That means he is only concerned about winning votes, but is not interested in making personal sacrifices for the voters.
He wants a good name without working for it. In other words those outside his constituency don’t matter to him because they don’t bring votes.
We feel strongly about this incident because this is not the first time. The whole land reform programme has been dogged by scandal, corruption and indiscipline because of individuals who believe either they must always be the first to benefit or they don’t have to play by the book.
It is a culture which has created a lot of negative perceptions about the ruling party’s noble policies meant to empower ordinary Zimbabweans. It is a culture which needs to be rooted out.
Online Reporter