Speaking to Harare Post, Chief Social Officer in the Department of Social Welfare, Joyce Pikinini said Drought Relief Committees comprising government officials are set from national to village level and that there is no room for corruption or political interference.
“Claims by opposition political parties and other anti-government elements on social media that food distribution under the Drought Relief Programme is done on political grounds are totally false. This is a government programme in which every deserving household is entitled to benefit regardless of political affiliation.
“Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) carries crop assessment to determine the level of food assistance that different areas of the country require depending on their yields. ZimVac then produces a report that guides us on which areas to prioritise in giving aid. Drought relief Committees are then set which identifies beneficiaries and make distributions. No politicians are allowed in the distribution process,” she said.
Pikinini said no political regalia or political slogans are allowed during the distribution exercise. “We do not even allow speeches on the day of distribution, it will be strictly government programme,” she added.
She revealed that all ten provinces of the country benefit from the government`s drought relief programme with an average 760,692 households getting aid countrywide.
