THE ruling Zanu PF party has always claimed that it has the best interests of the people at heart.
More often than not, its supporters prop up their party and even those who do not support it but fear exclusion are left with no choice but to back the party’s programmes for fear of reprisals.
At all its mega rallies, the supporters are given T-shirts, wrapping cloths, caps, scarfs.
At times, they get farming inputs such as fertiliser and seed for free.
In the run-up to the August 2023 general elections, they were treated to roasted chicken, French fries, fizzy drinks and loaves of bread.
Then, the situation in the country was already bad in terms of food security.
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The El Niño-induced drought had ravaged Zimbabwe, along other countries in the Southern African Development Community region and the effects are still traumatising us today.
Many farmers are still counting losses from the drought of the 2023-24 farming season.
Those who planted their seed saw their crops wilting as a result of the dry weather conditions.
Now we are in the lean season of the drought.
Over half of the country’s 15 million people are faced with hunger, with around three million facing starvation.
The situation in the country is dire, for both urban and rural dwellers.
The governing party, Zanu PF, should not only be seen to be doing something but should be doing something.
Citizens are hungry and this is where social safety nets are expected to be functioning.
But then, it’s sad to learn that parliamentarians have resorted to evading meetings with their constituents, if what Chimanimani West MP Wilson Maposa says is true.
Addressing a Zanu PF inter-district meeting in Biriri, Maposa said they had no solution to address the ravaging hunger. Some villagers are taking the drastic step of dragging their hungry children to the homes of legislators to make their point.
It is becoming increasingly clear that Zanu PF is clueless on how to resolve the country’s challenges.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is busy handing out top-of-the-range cars to chiefs and members of the State security because they perpetuate his hold on power and keep the hungry citizens on a salty leash.
He has even changed his escort vehicles, which now include Ford Raptors, Mercedes-Benz Vianos, a customised Toyota Land Cruiser with a network jamming system.
He sometimes even rolls around in a sleek Rolls Royce.
The other Zim1s include a Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Guard Limousine, a Mercedes-Benz ML500 4MATIC, a Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV, a Range Rover Autobiography and several other SUVs.
That’s your lot Zimbabweans, to starve while your so-called leader is busy buying top-of-the-range cars for his errands.
Last October, then Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister July Moyo was one of the two ministers ordered by the High Court to reimburse Treasury ZiG200 million which was meant to cater for the welfare of the poor, the elderly and other vulnerable citizens in the country.
Moyo and his Higher and Tertiary Education ministry counterpart Fredrick Shava allegedly dipped their hands into critical funds in their respective ministries without seeking Treasury approval.
MPs, on the other hand, are arm-twisting Finance minister Mthuli Ncube to buy them new cars because they do not want to be seen driving old cars.
They want hotel and travel and subsistence allowances, yet their constituents are going to bed hungry.
A delayed onset of the rainy season, a hungry farmer, emaciated livestock will all contribute to a reduced yield this farming season.
The most recent short-term forecast points to drier conditions than normal in the short term, which calls for the need for increased alertness and monitoring.
Zanu PF’s sincerity has been put to the test and the results are all too glaring for everyone to see.