adminUS$5 million for the revival of the winter maize project in the Lowveld.
The project is seen as the panacea to the drought prone Masvingo province’s problems.
Plans by the Masvingo provincial leadership to revive the winter maize hit a snag yet again this year after Treasury failed to release funds for the ambitious project that is aimed at easing the impact of last year’s devastating drought.
At least 2 500 hectares of unused land had been mobilised from resettled sugar cane farmers and sugar growing companies in the Lowveld for the winter maize project.
However, the project is yet to take off, as funds for tillage and procurement of inputs have not yet been made available by the Government.
Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Lovemore Matuke, on Monday castigated Minister Biti for his stance.
Cde Matuke said the cost of importing grain from other provinces with surpluses to needy areas in Masvingo would not only be too expensive for the government but would also be difficult hence he said it was only
logical for Minister Biti to capacitate the people of Masvingo to feed themselves.
“We are very disappointed with the continued refusal by Minister Biti to release funds for the winter maize project which we hoped was going to mitigate the effects of food shortages in Masvingo after the province was
hit by drought last year.
“We are disturbed by the Finance Minister’s apparent lack of concern to the people of Masvingo especially considering that the winter maize project was going to help to feed the people of this province.
“We have said it before and we want to say it again that the MDC and its ministers in government do not have people’s interests at heart,” said Cde Matuke.
The Zanu-PF provincial chairman added that it was disappointing to note that Minister Biti was refusing to release funds for the winter maize project in Masvingo after he also showed the same hesitancy in providing funds for the completion of Tokwe-Murkosi Dam also in Masvingo.
Online Reporter