GMB ups grain movement to drought-stricken areas

In a statement, acting GMB corporate communications manager Mr Joseph Katete said the parastatal had been concentrating on distributing grain to Masvingo, Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Midlands provinces, which are prone to food shortages.
However, Mr Katete said the GMB was battling to meet the transport costs for distribution, which average $2 million per month.

He said the GMB had accumulated a debt of $1.6 million for transport and some transporters had threatened to withdraw their services if they were not paid.
Mr Katete said as of 20 March, the GMB had distributed 16 590 tonnes of grain to five provinces in the country.
“Matabeleland North has received 3 238 tonnes, Matabeleland South has been given 2 941 tonnes, a total of 3 361 tonnes have been delivered to Masvingo, while 6 810 have been sent to the Midlands and 240 to Manicaland,” said Mr Katete.

He said about 19 GMB depots received and would continue to receive the grain under the Grain Loan Scheme.
“The depots are Beitbridge, Binga, Buhera, Chikombedzi, Chivi, Chiredzi, Esigodini, Gwanda, Gweru, Inyathi, Kwekwe, Maphisa, Masvingo, Mataga, Nkayi, Nyamandlovu, Plumtree, Tongogara and Zvishavane,” said Mr Katete.

He said the GMB, in line with its mandate of ensuring national food security, was aware of the need for continuous supply of grain to those areas and would continue to move with speed to avert hunger.
He appealed to the Ministry of Finance to urgently make resources available to sustain the programme, which he said required $2 million per month.

“The programme urgently needs a total of $3,6 million to clear the accrued transporters debt and obligations for the next 30 days. It will require a total of $21 million for its implementation until 31 March, 2013,” said Mr Katete.

He also appealed to transporters to bear with GMB as it continued to source funding for the urgent national programme.
“As Zimbabweans, let us stand together as we fight hunger. We would like to thank all farmers who delivered their produce to the national granary. Together we can restore our yester years’ pride of being the bread basket in the region,” said Mr Katete.

The Government announced at the beginning of this month that it was extending the grain loan scheme facility to the 2012/13 farming season as almost a third of the 1,6 million hectares of land planted in this year’s farming season was a write-off.
Press reports indicate that a food crisis is looming in Matabeleland North and South due to the dry spell that hit the provinces.
About 93 000 people are said to be in need of food aid in Masvingo.