Ngoni Masoka
Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
THE government has warned grain transporters to desist from fleecing vulnerable villagers through overcharging when transporting grain from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to ward distribution centres.
Under the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy (FDMS) programme, the government is assisting vulnerable food insecure households with 50kg of maize per household.
The Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Ngoni Masoka, said beneficiaries must pay a maximum of $1 per 50 kilogramme bag.
“The government of Zimbabwe is seized with an ongoing exercise of assisting vulnerable food insecure households with 50kg maize grain per household under the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy (FDMS) programme.
“The maize grain is accessed through the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots located in all rural districts dotted across the country,” said Masoka.
“It has come to the attention of government that there are transporters who are swindling beneficiaries of the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme of their hard earned cash under the guise of mobilising funds for transportation of the grain. While government appreciates the role of communities in mobilising transport to ferry grain from GMB depots to ward distribution points, government would like to warn transporters against overcharging vulnerable people in need of assistance.”
He said all those involved in organising transport for the movement of grain for vulnerable beneficiaries are encouraged to negotiate with transporters in the spirit of assisting and not milking the already suffering households.
“For movement of maize grain from GMB depots to ward distribution centres, the maximum price should not exceed US$1 per 50kg bag. Zimbabwe has received poor and erratic rainfall this farming season due to the drought,” Masoka said.
Due to the drought, the government has taken measures to guarantee food security, including importing maize from other countries, allowing free movement of grain from areas of surplus and encouraging private importers to also import grain.
The government has also secured $200 million in lines of credit for grain imports, as it steps up measures to ensure that no one starves.