The Sunday News
Vincent Gono, Acting News Editor
WITH many rural families agonising over the cost of rice and other luxuries for the festive holiday, there could never be a more perfect a time for a donation of rice from President Mnangagwa than this week.
President Mnangagwa donated more than 3 000 tonnes of rice to all rural constituencies throughout the country with each constituency expected to get 15 tonnes of the commodity.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Cde Lovemore Matuke confirmed that they have received the rice and they were already on the ground where their officers were distributing it to the villagers.
“We have received more than 3 000 tonnes of rice from President Mnangagwa. The instruction is for us to give out the rice to all rural constituencies in the country before Christmas and we are working right now to ensure that it is distributed to the intended beneficiaries,” said Cde Matuke.
He said a number of families especially in the rural areas, were struggling to make ends meet as they were hard pressed by the economic hardships, were expected to get the donated rice to cushion them against the vagaries of the harsh economy.
“The President sourced the rice with the rural people in mind. We are thrilled that they have been cushioned. The prices of such niceties as rice is now beyond the reach of many rural dwellers. We have families that do not have anyone in town and they are not looking forward to anything other than what they have, so, the gesture by the President goes a long way to cushion them,” said Cde Matuke.
He said the rice was given to his ministry for distribution adding that they were going to use their structures to make sure everyone got something.
“This rice is for everyone. The idea of politicising food aid given by the President should not be tolerated. The President is everyone’s despite political affiliation. No one is equal than the other and no one is going to get first preference because they belong to a certain political party,” he said.
He thanked President Mnangagwa for the kind gesture saying what he did was a testimony that he was aware of the people’s needs.
