Registered village heads from Nkayi in Matabeleland North have revealed that they have not received their allowances for over a year.
Sources who spoke to CITE disclosed that they were provided with NetOne sim cards in February, with the expectation that allowances would soon start being disbursed.
“We used to receive the allowance every month, but it has since stopped. During President Mugabe’s era, we earned around US$60. When Emmerson Mnangagwa took over, the payments were converted to RTGS. Initially, when converted to USD, we received about US$7, but this amount gradually decreased to US$6, then US$5, and eventually to US$3, until the payments stopped altogether,” explained the village heads.
“We were called to a meeting in Nkayi on February 15, where we were informed that the allowances would now be sent via One Money. However, to date, we have not received any payments. When we inquire, we are told to wait, that everything will be sorted out.”
The village heads also claimed that their inquiries about the delayed allowances are often met with silence.
“When we ask, we become targets, but how are we supposed to survive? We have families to support, and hunger is affecting us. Nkayi has about 612 village heads, but you will find that those who are earning are just over 100.”
They further mentioned that the District Development Coordinator (DDC) informed them that the funds are now managed from Harare.
“She said when we were receiving our payments regularly, the funds were managed from the Nkayi office. Now, the offices are in Harare.”
“When we try to raise these issues in the WhatsApp group, some village H\heads who are still receiving their allowances silence us,” they added.
Contacted for a comment, the DDC Matilda Mlotshwa did not respond but later told the traditional leaders in their WhatsApp group that their position remains unchanged.
She acknowledged the challenge, stating that the transfer of fund management to Harare has caused disruptions.
“Livukile badala siyezwa ukukhala,iqiniso yikuthi siyazama lathi njengehofisi ukuthi lonke lithole imfanelo zenu,uhlupho yikuthi sekusenziwa eHarare eSSB.Ngesikhathi kusenziwa lapha kithi lizavuma ukuthi akuzange kubelohlupho olunje.Asazi kwenzakalani khonale abanengi kuma payslip kwabuya inamba engasiyo,yikho esikhona khathesi ,kancane abantu bayabuyela.Siyathemba ngokuhamba kwesikhathi sonke kuzasilungela ,ukubuya ehofisini angiboni kusiza kangako ngoba konke kwenziwa esigodlweni,kungaphezu kwethu thina siyabhala amaphepha sihambise. Okwakhathesi asibekezeleni kuzalunga,siyaxolisa kakhulu, kodwa iqiniso yikuthi kungakudala kuzalunga.Litshone kuhle.”
She added: “We ask for patience; everything will be sorted out soon. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
