adminThe scheme was introduced in December last year as an emergency measure in response to the escalating food shortages in drought prone areas.
GMB corporate communications manager Mrs Muriel Zemura on Monday said the grain loan scheme was open to anybody with acceptable identification.
She lamented the failure by the Finance Ministry to pay transporters who moved the grain to GMB depots throughout the country. GMB still owes transporters more than $4 million for their services.
“Treasury had promised to clear the payment to transporters a fortnight ago,” she said.
“This payment is critical for the sustenance of this programme.
“We are still waiting for the payment.”
“The World Food Programme (WFP) recently pledged to assist Zimbabwe in buying and transporting grain to areas facing food shortages.
The interval between September and November has been considered the most critical in terms of food requirements.
Government agreed to give priority to WFP in relation to grain procurement from Zambia.
The scheme is expected to benefit close to one million households in the grain deficit areas, with each household expected to get at least 50kgs of maize every month.
Under the scheme, which is a short-term measure, households without adequate food would be able to access grain from Government on credit and repay later after harvesting.
But as a long-term solution, Government is working on a three-year rolling agricultural policy, which would allow it to plan properly before the start of every season.
Government has also allowed the private sector to continue importing cereals.
Mrs Zemura urged beneficiaries under the scheme to report cases of corruption in the distribution of the grain.
“If there are any cases of corruption that the public has witnessed, we will be happy to receive information on that. We urge the public to report such cases,” said Mrs Zemura.
Her comments come in the wake of allegations by some beneficiaries that they were failing to access the grain because of some shoddy dealings involving the distributors of the grain and some individuals.
GMB recently fired some of its employees over alleged corrupt practices.
Online Reporter