BY CALVIN MANIKA
Exactly during the same period in 2021, Gerald Ncube (65) was among the elderly in Nkayi South desperately waiting in vain for Covid-19 support grants.
Government through the Social Welfare ministry had announced a facility where beneficiaries including the aged were to receive a total of $200 through the NetOne mobile money platform.
At the time, the money could buy a bag of mealie-meal but is now equivalent to US$1 or less in the black market.
Covid-19 induced lockdowns had disrupted livelihoods, caused job losses and left people at the mercy of the Social Welfare ministry.
But Ncube is one of the villagers who feel they were neglected after having failed to receive anything.
Fast forward to the same time in 2022, all-terrain high clearance twin-cabs of all types from different political parties can now be seen trudging along the dusty roads of Nkayi South donating freebies in their campaigns.
“I received a bag of maize from one of the campaign teams of a certain political party recently. Other parties have been giving us t-shirts and promising us,” Ncube says.
Ncube says this is not new as election seasons are accompanied by baskets of freebies from agricultural inputs to t-shirts.
By-elections to fill vacant 28 parliamentary and 105 local government seats are due on March 26.
General elections are scheduled for 2023, and political parties have not wasted time in kick-starting their campaigns several months’ way.
In Nkayi South, the elderly head most of the households, and stay with grand-children left in their care by their parents residing in neighbouring countries such as South Africa.
Michael Ncube said the elderly in his Nkayi South constituency were exposed to abuse by political parties during the electioneering season taking advantage suffering.
“In a functional economy the elderly are supposed to be looked after by the government,” Ncube said.
“Because of lack of employment opportunities and a desire to support parents youngsters end up leaving the country.
“The whole burden is left with the elderly, who are no longer able to work.”
Another villager, Thomas Sibanda added: “These elderly people are our neighbours, and in the absence of their children we usually check on them, assist them and help the children they live with. “
“We are each brother’s keeper, but you will see that as we go for 2023 elections as we are witnessing now, parties are targeting them for votes by donating goods among others to buy votes,” he said.
But during the Covid-19 induced lockdowns, political parties were nowhere to be seen.
The elderly who were forsaken have suddenly become darlings
Social grants from the department of social welfare did not reach out to them or were very paltry when received.
Surviving became a challenge.
Former opposition MP South Abednico Bhebhe said this exposed the bad side of the country’s politics.
“In terms of the elderly, as soon as elections are called they activate that through the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. They start the registration process of the elderly,” Bhebhe said.
“I have seen that and exposed it. Right now they are using drought relief and I know they will use social welfare again to start giving the elderly maize.
“They will use maize to buy votes.”
Nkayi social welfare officer Khumbulani Mabena did not pick the calls or replied messages sent to him by this reporter by the time of going to print.
But Nkayi South MP Stars Mathe admitted that the elderly suffered when the country introduced lockdowns to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“During lockdowns life was hard for them, but they have to be helped every time.
“It is not true that they are only assisted during elections,” Mathe said.
“Personally, I have formed committees in every ward to update me about the needs of the elderly in my constituency. We don’t wait for elections.”
*This article was originally published by The Citizen Bulletin, a nonprofit news organisation that produces hard-hitting, hyperlocal reporting and analysis for the southwestern region of Matabeleland.