KEY POINTS
- Mbare Musika beneficiary list criticized for errors and duplications.
- Fire victims face uncertainty as credibility concerns emerge.
- Public backlash ties errors to disputed 2023 election practices.
The Zimbabwean government is under fire after releasing a list of would-be beneficiaries for the rehabilitated Mbare Musika Market in Harare.
A list of names published in a local newspaper has also a variety of objections, such as duplication of names, awkward entries, which makes this list questionable.
Social media users have drawn parallels between the errors in the list and previous accusations against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) over its disputed voters’ roll.
Rebuilding Mbare Musika after devastating fire
The beneficiary list was released following the market’s reconstruction, which came after a fire last year destroyed infrastructure and goods.
Additionally, vendors and farmers were severely affected and this led to the government having to come in so as to help support the people again.
However, discrepancies in the list, such as repeated names and questionable entries like “Clemence Azngwe” and “Clayposy Kamwaya,” have overshadowed the relief effort.
Opposition from the public and the call for accountability
According to New Zimbabwe, the list has fueled outrage, with critics accusing the government of incompetence and drawing comparisons to irregularities in the 2023 elections.
Moreover, critics and social media users took the list personally, and some responded that it shows poor governance.
A notice accompanying the list invites individuals with concerns to address them by January 19, but public trust remains low as similar issues have previously gone unresolved.
