ZANU PF MP Langa and wife accused of blocking opposition from GMB food in Insiza

By Violet Gonda
15 May 2006

Bulawayo Archbishop Pius Ncube has expressed concern at the continued partisan distribution of much needed food in Matebeleland region especially in Insiza and Gwanda. The outspoken cleric alleges that the notorious Langa family are at the centre of this practice and have made the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) in the area totally disorderly.

Andrew Langa is the MP for Insiza who allegedly brandished a gun and shot an MDC official in front of the police during the 2005 parliamentary elections. There are also allegations that MP Langa intimidates and threatens the local chiefs and has the police in his pocket. His wife is reported to be in charge of the GMB depot in Insiza which gives her powers to decide who can buy food and who gets turned away.

Archbishop Ncube said the oppression of the people in this region is heartless and that recently at least 200 people were denied food even though they had the money.

Ncube added, “The MP for Insiza is greatly immoral and murderous and totally deceitful. ” According to the archbishop food is readily available for ruling ZANU PF supporters and that is made abundantly clear.

Andrew Langa is known as the ZANU PF Warlord for the area. The pressure group Sokwanele wrote about him saying; “Those acquainted with Langa in even the slightest way confirm that here is one politician who understands no other style of politics than bullying intimidation and brutal violence.”

The Catholic Bishop confirms this saying the situation has worsened in the last 3 years. He said even starving orphans and the elderly are ignored. On the ruling elite in Insiza the Archbishop said, “They will not listen, they are deaf. ZANU PF has become their God and people have to suffer for this.”

He believes Langa should have been put behind bars a long time ago, but inaction by the police means there is no rule of law in Zimbabwe.

Sadly this is a situation that has been going on for some time. A report by the pressure group Sokwanele on the lawlessness in Insiza last year said; “According to villagers who were interviewed last week, ZANU-PF district structures operating under the party’s candidate for the area, Andrew Langa, have given them two choices for their survival. They must either vote for ZANU-PF and get food relief or support the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party and go without food … Most of the villagers interviewed said they would rather die of hunger than back ZANU-PF, a party they have never supported in their lives.”