ReliefWeb

Written by Tony Saxon

BINDURA - Vice President Joice Mujuru recently attacked Non Governmental Organisation (NGOs) for contributing to the increasing of poverty among the locals by giving free handouts.

Mujuru said this at a field day held at Mount Darwin North legislator Dickson Mafio’s farm. Mujuru said the people of Zimbabwe should stop relying on donors and utilise the land they took from former commercial farmers to empower themselves.

‘NGOs have destroyed our culture of working. People should shun donors and work on the land to alleviate poverty,’ said Mujuru.

‘It’s wrong for the Vice President to attack NGOs because they are doing a lot more than politicians who grabbed farms but are not contributing to the country’s food security. NGOs have assisted us with inputs, expertise and equipment, which our government has failed to give us,’ said one small-scale farmer who declined to be named for security reasons.

‘The reason why the land reform failed is that the distribution of inputs is done in a partisan way. Only Zanu (PF) card-carrying members benefit while those with capacity were neglected. NGOs, however, have managed to fill the gap. We really appreciate their efforts in empowering us," said Phenius Mhara, a communal farmer from Matepatepa.

An official from one of the NGO's operating in Mashonaland Central said it was unfortunate for politicians to attack NGO's whilst they were trying to compliment government efforts in improving the lives of poor people.