By Tell Reporter
Bikita – Tempers are running high in Zunde village under headman Masasire of Bikita after the headman demanded US$ 20 from each villager who received fertilizer under the Presidential input scheme in December 2014.
Speaking to Tell Zimbabwe, villagers said were supposed to be tried at the headman’s court on 16 January 2015. According to sources in Bikita, their major crime was that they received the fertilizer without the headman’s consent.
However, some of the victims who boycotted the trial at the headman’s court said Masasire was irked by the fact that he was not directly involved in the selection of the beneficiaries of the input scheme.
” I was summoned to Masasire’s court but I boycotted. I dont attend such nonsense… everything was done above board. He is angry because he wanted his close relatives and friends to benefit but professionals from Agritex as well as village heads selected the rightful people. I am sure no one is going to turn up for the hearing,” said one of the villagers.
President Robert Mugabe
However, headman Masasire said he was shocked by the allegations.
“Who told you that ? Give me the names of those complaining ….did anyone told you that he was convicted? They are liars who are set to tarnish my name …I am going to have a meeting with Village heads on February 3 and we are not going to talk about that fertilizer,” said the headman.
Ward 19 councillor Nesibert Chivasa could neither deny nor accept the allegations saying he was going to investigate the issue.
He however, said Zunde was a problematic village which is often in controversy.
“I heard that there were some problems in that village but I do not stay there…my ward is big but I promise to look into that issue. I will also talk to the headman and find out the exact truth but you might need to know that there is a lot of politics at play,” said Councillor Chivasa.local
