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ZIMBABWE’S maize stocks have started rising, as grain imports have begun trickling in, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare permanent secretary Mr Ngoni Masoka said.The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has also released $1 million for distribution of maize from the Grain Marketing Board depots to points where beneficiaries would collect their allocation.Distribution inefficiencies had become a cause for concern as maize had not been reaching intended beneficiaries on time while in some cases the programme became a loophole for corruption.
Under Government’s drought relief programme, each vulnerable household is entitled to a 50kg bag of maize per month. On average, a household will have five people.
Government has a programme to import close to 500 000 tonnes of maize to avert hunger caused by effects of the El-Nino phenomena, which also affected the entire SADC region.
“Imports have started arriving and our grain stocks have improved,” said Mr Masoka, while addressing a meeting on drought relief programme in Rushinga, Mt Darwin.
“But by mid-April, we will have more imports and this means we will distribute more grain.
“Last week, the central bank released $1 million for transportation of the grain. This was our biggest problem to transport maize from the GMB depots to ward collection points.
“Such state of affairs had become a breeding ground for corruption as the venerable were being forced to pay as much as $4,50 for transport or pay using part of their allocation.
“The drought relief programme is meant to help people and not to give them extra burden.”
The Southern African Development Community said about 28 million people in the region were rendered vulnerable and are in urgent need of “food and non-food” relief.
That is double the number of people whom the UN World Food Programme had projected.
In swift response to the worst drought in memory, Zimbabwe declared the 2015 /16 season state of emergency. The declaration was aimed at mobilising resources to alleviate hunger.
Among other things, Government has put in place plans to supervise the effective delivery supply of grain to people and livestock in the drought affected areas. Government has put in place a robust grain importation programme after securing $200 million from lenders while the GMB was directed to reduce maize prices from $23 to $15 per 50kg bag.
Under the private sector initiatives, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe committed to import at least 100 000 metric tonnes monthly for both human and livestock.
An initial report by the Zimbabwe Venerable Assessment Committee had projected that about 1,5 million people would require aid, but the figure has since increased to four million.
Mr Masoka revealed that the estimates would be reviewed soon after the crop assessment to ensure that everyone in need of food aid is catered for by the relief programme.
Despite the ballooning numbers, the measures are adequate to ensure no one starves, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said.
“We had underestimated the effects of drought . . . we had projected a smaller number of people in need of aid,” he said while addressing the same meeting.
“But we want to assure the nation that it is not in danger of starvation.
“We have a running importation programme and the RBZ has released money for logistical purposes.
“We had transport challenges that were delaying the movement of grain but that has been sorted out.”
The minister said the grain would be delivered to where beneficiaries would have better access.
“We have the DDF and Road Motor Services which will ensure smooth grain movement.”
Minister Kasukuwere expressed concern over reports of corruption where beneficiaries where charged fees or forced to pay using part of their grain allocation.
“We have the reports that some councillors were charging $5 for transport,” he said.
“That should end, people are already burdened, why should we give them extra burden.”
The minister said all stakeholders in the distribution of maize, including traditional chief should not be sidelined to ensure transparency. During 2015 /16 season, 744 426 hectares of maize were planted, a 49 percent decline from the previous year, according to FAO.
Zimbabwe requires about 1,2 million tonnes of maize annually for human and livestock consumption.
Online Reporter