Andrew
Siphathisiwe Maziwa
THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has set up investigative teams to probe the smuggling of agriculture commodities into the country.
This comes after the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development said it had noted with concern the growing number of agricultural products that are illegally entering the country and flooding markets.
To date, the monitoring exercise being carried out in Harare has revealed that products such as onions, pine apples, potatoes and carrots are being smuggled into the country at a large scale.
The Ministry is concerned that such products, which are usually of a low quality, are providing unfair competition to local farmers whose incomes are affected. Some of the smuggled commodities’ also pose health risks, as they are not cleared at the ports of entry.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, AMA chief executive officer Mr Clever Isaya, said the investigators will comprise multiple teams that will impound smuggled commodities.
“The overall objective of the teams is to carry out investigations within the country on the smuggled commodities and report back to senior management on key findings and recommendations for policy decisions,” he said.
“The specific responsibilities of the teams are to secure all illegally acquired agricultural commodities and where possible confiscate them. Where it cannot be moved, the shop could be closed and the commodities locked up or could be placed under an embargo, meaning that even though the person may be left in its possession, he/she cannot touch it for any purposes.”
Mr Isaya said AMA will work with law enforcement agents to clampdown on the smuggled commodities.
“We have recommended use of different tools of justice in dealing with errant shops depending on the severity of their cases; some would be recommended for fines, some for stiffer penalties while others for prosecution.
“We will also make sure that there are daily updates on the progress they will be making and produce a consolidated report at the end of the operation and also provide other necessary and relevant recommendation(s) for Government policy.”
The implementation of the investigations will be guided by the AMA Act, Statutory Instrument 140 of 2013, which regulates participation in the production, buying or processing of any grain, oilseeds and products by producers, buyers or processors.
Other legal instruments, including the Plant and Diseases Act, and Control of Goods Act will also be enforced.
Online Reporter