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Some of the food aid maize given to the elderly in Makokoba by Rtd Col Tshinga Dube yesterday

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
WAR veterans Minister Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube yesterday savaged his former aide after accusing him of stealing food aid earmarked for vulnerable members of society.

Rtd Col Dube who is also the MP for Makokoba lashed out at Nothiwani Dlodlo labelling him an ingrate.

“He thought he was now God yet he’s Lucifer stealing food meant for the vulnerable,” said Rtd Col Dube.

Warming to his theme as he distributed maize to vulnerable Makokoba residents at Efusini in the suburb, he used a Biblical example to explain how Dlodlo had been blinded by his position as a personal assistant.

“He was now behaving like the donkey that brought Jesus to Jerusalem. The donkey thought it was God by its association with Jesus. So the following day it tried to go where the people were and they beat it up. They did so because it’s not the donkey they were concerned about but the person who was riding it,” said the Makokoba legislator.

He said Dlodlo was also claiming that he (Rtd Col Dube) owed him money, forgetting that he was a volunteer depending on handouts.

Responding to the attack in an interview last night, Dlodlo said Rtd Col Dube’s utterances were cheap politicking. He insisted that indeed the minister owed him some money.

“As an honourable member of society, he’s not behaving honourably. I’m his son. He’s lacking maturity,” said Dlodlo.

He said he would not go into mudslinging because “if a mad man steals your clothes while you’re bathing and you chase him, people might not see the difference.”

“Deep inside he knows he owes me. The theft allegations have never been substantiated. During elections, he promised me $5,000 as his campaign manager if he won, he never paid after being victorious. He promised me a vehicle, $600 monthly salary and free accommodation that I never got,” said Dlodlo.

Rtd Col Dube gave the food to senior citizens born between 1910 and 1959, schools, churches, old people’s homes and institutions that look after children.

He said the maize was not distributed on political grounds following President Robert Mugabe’s instructions.

“We’re experiencing drought and the situation might be worse as the year progresses. I want to urge those who’re getting food aid to use it sparingly as these are hard times. Let’s be conscious of the situation we’re facing,” said Rtd Col Dube.

He said his constituency was the first to receive government’s food aid in cities.

“Today’s gathering is different from our political gatherings. We’re providing food to the elderly.

“We don’t want this food to be politicised and the President has said this. We need to provide food to those affected by                                 hunger regardless of their political affiliation,” he said.

Rtd Col Dube also brought two doctors to treat the elderly free of charge.

He emphasised that child headed families should never be left out whenever there was aid.