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Kamangeni Phiri Midlands Bureau Chief
The new Zanu-PF Government has started paying farmers money owed to them by the Grain Marketing Board following the release of $9,2 million for the exercise by treasury, GMB General Manager, Mr Albert Mandizha said yesterday.In an interview, Mr Mandizha said GMB owed farmers $10 million after going for two seasons without paying them.
“The Government has given us the resources to pay the farmers. We started paying the farmers last week on Thursday and expect to complete the process in two weeks time. We will be able to pay 98 percent of the farmers,” he said.
Mr Mandizha said the new Government’s decision to pay farmers their outstanding amounts for grain delivered will help revitalise the agriculture sector in the country.
He said the gesture also proved the Government’s commitment to supporting farmers and paying them on time.
“The new Government is committed to promote and support farmers. Remember, the Government is less than a month in office but it has already started paying farmers. This is money that they were owed for the past two farming seasons.
The previous (Inclusive) Government was in existence for four years but failed to pay farmers for the past two seasons. As GMB, we are grateful to the Government for paying farmers. This will certainly go a long way in reviving agriculture in the country. Farmers will now be able to buy inputs on time after delivering their grain to GMB,” said Mr Mandizha.
The GMB boss appealed to farmers who have been hanging on to their grain to start selling so that the Government stops relying on imported grain to feed people in drought affected areas.
Government imported maize from Zambia as part of measures to mitigate the effects of drought.
“Now that the Government is paying farmers, we appeal to all farmers who have been holding on to their grain to sell it to GMB. It’s easier and economic to move grain from within, that is, from areas that registered good harvests to drought affected areas,” said Mr Mandizha.
He said the Government has so far received 13 000 metric tonnes of maize from Zambia which has since been distributed to some of the affected areas.
Mr Mandizha said GMB was expecting the delivery of a further 137 000 tonnes of maize to bring the total to 150 000 tonnes of grain imported from Zambia to cover the food deficit.
“The second contingent of grain is coming. However, we have started distributing to some of the affected areas and we expect all areas to receive their grain within the next few months.
“GMB is also assisting farmers through contract farming, especially in round nuts and peanut farming. We are receiving a consignment of stock which will allow us to sell seed and other inputs to farmers,” he said.
Meanwhile, GMB donated various food items, a LED 32 inch television set, blankets and foam rubber mattresses, all valued at $4 000 to Queen of Peace Rehabilitation Centre in Gweru.
Queen of Peace is a rehabilitation home for mentally challenged children. Mr Mandizha told the centre’s staff that GMB would continue working with them in an effort to improve the lives of society’s vulnerable and underprivileged members.
“We believe our communities are our responsibility. Everywhere you look around in the world, there are situations that definitely need our attention and support. My team in the Midlands identified this home. We are here today to make our contribution. To be able to do that, we organised a fundraising dinner last year and this donation is one of the fruits yielded from that event.
Through the funds we raised last year, we have managed to support in the course of this year 10 charity organisations and two families, this centre included. I encourage other organisations that have similar programmes to keep up the good work as we try to achieve a better Zimbabwe,” he said.
Former Midlands Governor, Dr Cephas Msipa, who is also a former GMB board chairperson, said parastatals and quasi-government organisations had a big role to play in complementing Government in its efforts to improve people’s lives.
He commended GMB for working with various charity organisations and making a positive difference to the lives of the children.
“GMB is closely associated with the Government. It has strategic grain reserves that ensure that people do not starve during periods of drought.
There is no way we can talk of farming without talking of GMB. It is good when GMB engages in charity work of this magnitude because we cannot expect Government to do everything. I want to appeal to the corporate world and other privileged members of society to emulate the biblical Good Samaritan and play their part in assisting our less privileged members,” said Dr Msipa.
Online Reporter