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By Elvis Dumba
Government will miss its 15 November 2021 deadline target for distributing farming inputs under the Pfumvuza/Intwasa Presidential Input Scheme from the Lands and Agriculture ministry.
It has been learnt that government faces a transport headache after transporter’s contracted by government through Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to transport the inputs from GMB depots pulled out from deal.
Most transporters cited delay in getting their payments as the main reason for pulling out.
During a Mashonaland West ZANU PF Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting held in Chinhoyi, The Party Acting Provincial Chairperson Abiel Mujeri concurred that transport challenges has affected the program.
“GMB is facing transport challenges after some transported pulled out so we have few tricks moving the inputs which will delay the process” he said
Mujeri said recipients of the inputs should not be charged for transportation of the inputs from GMB depots.
Mujeri was responding to a contribution that some transporters in rural areas were charging at least US$2 per a fifty kilogram bag of fertilizer depending on distance from the depot.
“Pfumvudza is a program which is coming from our President who is seeing that transport for these inputs is also paid so no one should be charged for the transportation of the inputs. Let’s do the distribution until everyone get his or her share and I would like to appeal to those people with trucks who would like to compliment our President to come on board and donate their services. I also need to emphasize that those receiving these inputs should not be charged as government said they will take responsibility for the transport” Mujeri told the meeting
Mujeri said local ward councilor in consultation with the ZANU PF District chairperson are responsible in the inputs distribution in conjunction with agriculture extension officer.
Meanwhile MDC Alliance Secretary for Agriculture Norman Markham has said ZANU PF has been abusing state resources for its campaign strategies.
Markham said by making ZANU PF officials in the distribution of the inputs is proof that the program is partisan and a campaign tool.
“State institutions and party structures should be differentiated as they are apart and ZANU PF has no right to audit any government funds as this should be done by government institutions and we are aware that ZANU PF has been abusing state resources for their campaigns. We are aware of Pfumvudza being given to security sector officials such as soldiers and police and it’s not a surprise as they have been abusing state resources as when we were in short supply of maize they controlled maize including the World Food Programme and this is coming about 18 months away from an election,”he said.
Markham sentiments followed a leaked correspondence to GMB regional managers from the parastatals operations director, one F Takaindisa dated 23 October 2021 announcing cabinet resolutions which includes that ruling party officials will monitor the distribution of Pfumvudza to enhance accountability and also that all beneficiaries should have received their inputs by 15 November 2021.
Meanwhile, during the National Assembly question-and-answer session on Wednesday, legislators accused and blamed Zanu PF bigwigs and government officials for being involved in managing scheme highlighting that it was causing disorder.