The Wasu Post
Mutare, Zimbabwe
8 February 2025
Dear Editor,
I write to express profound frustration and concern over the unfulfilled promises made by the Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
In Mutare Urban, vulnerable households were issued NetOne SIM cards last year with assurances that cash transfers under the Harmonised Social Cash Transfer (HSCT) programme would commence in November 2024 .
Today, on 8 February 2025, not a single beneficiary has received the pledged funds, leaving thousands of families destitute and questioning the government’s commitment to urban welfare.
This failure is particularly distressing given the dire circumstances. The 2024 Urban Livelihoods Assessment identified 1.7 million urban Zimbabweans as food-insecure, with Mutare residents among those relying on this lifeline . While rural areas have seen grain distributions under the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy , urban populations—promised ZiG or USD equivalents via mobile money—remain abandoned.
The disparity is glaring: rural households receive tangible aid, yet urban families, equally ravaged by El Niño-induced drought, are left to navigate empty markets with empty pockets .
The situation echoes past systemic failures. During COVID-19, 120,000 NetOne cash-loaded SIM cards meant for vulnerable groups were never distributed, and Cyclone Idai relief efforts were marred by corruption and mismanagement .
The recent theft of 53 social welfare SIM cards by a UZ student in 2021 further exposes flaws in accountability . Regrettably, Mutare’s case suggests these issues persist, eroding public trust.
We urge the government to:
- Immediately disburse overdue payments to Mutare’s beneficiaries, as pledged under the HSCT .
- Publicly clarify delays and provide a transparent timeline for urban aid.
- Strengthen oversight to prevent fraud, ensuring aid reaches intended recipients.
- Expand rural-urban parity by prioritizing equitable resource allocation.
Hunger cannot wait for bureaucracy. Mutare’s families deserve dignity, not empty promises.
Yours sincerely,
Dorothy Mutare
Mutare Urban Resident
