BY NATHAN GUMA
MEMBERS of Parliament are demanding answers, summoning Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube over the government’s failure to fund a number of the country’s critical social safety programmes, with citizens reeling under the effects of the El Niño-induced drought.
The government has had cash transfers, among them the Harmonised Cash Transfer Programme, the Cash for Cereal Programme, and the Covid-19 Cushioning Fund, which have been under scrutiny over the opaque distribution of funds.
However, on Wednesday, March 5, deputy minister of social welfare, Mercy Dinha, lamented in the National Assembly that the situation for the needy in the country had become dire in the wake of last season’s devastating El Niño-induced drought.
Among the challenges facing badly-off citizens included woefully inadequate funding for the government’s critical Cash for Cereal Programme, and insufficient grain at local depots in many parts of the country, as transporters who move the cereal have not been paid.
Fourth Food Blitz
“I rise to give an update to the Parliament of Zimbabwe on the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy Programme,” she said.
“The Fourth Blitz Food Distribution phase is underway, though at a slow pace as various depots in provinces like Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Midlands have run out of stocks. Currently, Manicaland and Mashonaland East are withdrawing their tonnage from concession depots with assistance from well-wishers.
“Treasury released ZiG40 million to clear transport arrears which is but a drop in the ocean out of approximately ZiG238,162,757,032 that the Ministry owes to transporters. Vulnerable groups are finding it difficult to contribute to transport costs, hence Treasury should consider release of more funds to pay transportation of grain and clearance of arrears.”
Cash for Cereal Programme
She also said that the Cash for Cereal Programme under the Finance Ministry, requiring about ZWG322,400,000 (US$12.4 million), was yet to be funded by Treasury, with only 28,875 out of 1.7 million people having been paid in October 2024.
MPs Response
In response, Zanu PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi said that the Finance Minister explains the delay in the timeous disbursement of funds to the Ministry of Public Service, to which the Speaker agreed.
“Mr Speaker, I think what the Minister is telling us here is that there is a problem between her Ministry and Treasury. Treasury is not disbursing money for the payment of transport and also payment of the transfer to vulnerable people,” he said.
“Would it not be prudent, Mr Speaker, if the Minister of Finance comes here to explain why money for transport has not been disbursed. It is true that it is his ministry that is not doing that. Is it his ministry that is not transferring money to the vulnerable people?
“Lastly, Mr Speaker, I heard the Minister saying people were not given money for the past three months. If that money is raised, it must be paid in retrospect.
“Did I get you correct because my worry is if I did not get my payment of grain last month and we are in this month, will it be correct to say you will give me the arrears to it last month or we proceed from there because you have revised? I need clarity there, Minister.”
Temporary Speaker, Albert Nguluvhe, said that Minister Ncube will be summoned to Parliament.
“It has been noted, Chief Whip. Arrangements will be made that the Minister of Finance comes to the House and give a ministerial statement on that issue,” he said.
How the algorithm works
Parliament’s call comes after a wide investigation by The NewsHawks with assistance from the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) AI, Data and Digital Rights investigative journalism programme, showing how the government’s use of an algorithm to identify beneficiaries of cash transfer programmes has contributed to millions of people being left in need.
Findings by the investigation showed that the algorithm, first mentioned in 2020 by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, was being used to disburse money to people eligible for aid. The algorithm would look at how much money is in a potential recipient’s bank account, mobile wallet, and then use the phone number to determine where a potential recipient lives, without the recipient’s consent.
Firstly, lists would be compiled from the service providers and the Ministry of Public Service and fed into the algorithm, which would analyse the data using variables such as personal data, mobile money balances and locations. After this, the money would be disbursed using the NetOne service provider.
According to a report by the state-owned Herald dated 23 October 2024, then Public Service Minister July Moyo hinted that the beneficiary selection process for the Cash for Cereal Programme would use their phone numbers, which is the same way the algorithm operates.
Before Deputy Minister Dinha’s ministerial statement, various attempts to contact her were fruitless as she did not respond to questions sent to her. The ministry’s public relations officer, Respect Chofamba, could not get back to questions sent to her, despite reading the questions.
“Hi. No update as yet, give me until Monday (24/02/25) and remind me,” she said in a WhatsApp message.
However, the new statement has exposed more rot, revealing that most cash transfer programmes still remain underfunded.
