Zimpapers Logo

Chronicle Reporter
WORLD Vision workers in Tsholotsho are reportedly milking villagers of their hard earned cash by forcing them to buy  mealie-meal at exorbitant prices when they have been contracted by the organisation under the food-for-work programme.
This has raised concern among businesspeople in the Dlamini area, Ward 2, who feel cheated by the workers who do not pay for licences to sell the mealie-meal.

The non-governmental organisation is conducting a food-for-work programme in the district in a bid to mitigate starvation.
The villagers are entitled to $55 per month after working within their communities.

Villagers who spoke to Chronicle, however, said World Vision workers were forcing them to buy mealie-meal from them soon after paying them.

“We are working under the World Vision’s food-for-work programme and we are paid $55 by the NGO. The problem we have is that the workers have decided to make money at our expense.

“They bring mealie-meal, which they force us to buy soon after paying us,” said a villager who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“They are selling their mealie-meal at $34 for 50kgs yet it is going for $33 at local shops. As soon as they pay us, we are ordered to queue and buy their mealie-meal.  We are left with no choice but to buy because we want the food-for-work programme to continue so that we earn money to make a living.”

The villagers said while they appreciated the food-for-work programme by the NGO it was not fair for the workers to take advantage of them.

“World Vision is actually the only NGO that is making an effort to try and alleviate our suffering in Tsholotsho under the food-for-work programme but we are not happy because the workers are taking advantage of our situation.

“It would have been better if they were selling us the  mealie-meal at reduced prices but just because they are in business and we are at their mercy they charge whatever they want,” said another villager.

A concerned businessman said the move had adversely affected their businesses as the villagers were no longer buying mealie-meal from them.

“This is corruption and something must be done to stop it.
“World Vision workers do not pay rentals and licences to sell goods to the villagers but they have the nerve to do so right in front of our shops.

“At first we thought the mealie-meal was part of the payment but we later discovered that the villagers were buying it. What irks most is that the mealie-meal is sold at exorbitant prices,” he said.

He added: “World Vision is a reputable NGO and we know that the workers are doing this without the knowledge of the management. We are therefore appealing to World Vision to investigate this issue and rescue us.”