Maize scandal
By Chris Goko and Xolisani Ncube
Monday, 02 April 2012 12:00
HARARE – Zimbabweans are at risk of consuming condemned maize as it emerges
that some unscrupulous businessmen are buying the grain meant for stock feed
and processing it as mealie-meal for the poor.
The Daily News has discovered that the dealers have been buying the
condemned maize from some millers amid fears that the maize could be finding
itself on people’s tables.
The “rain-damaged” grain, damned by President Robert Mugabe’s government and
recommended for animals, has raised fears that consumers could be exposed to
health hazards following reports that there is also a 24 000-tonne
consignment of genetically modified organism (GMO) grain in the country.
Mugabe and cabinet both rejected the maize which has found its way to the
open market.
Harare City Council health director Prosper Chonzi confirmed they are
carrying out investigations into the quality of the grain and where it is
processed.
Reports say the mealie-meal being processed from the condemned maize by the
businessmen is cheaper compared to that produced by big companies.
While the millers are selling the grain to farmers and businessmen, there is
no authority to check whether the condemned maize is not being processed for
human consumption.
Tafadzwa Musarara, the chairperson of the Grain Millers Association of
Zimbabwe, on Friday confirmed there has been some maize which has been
condemned for human consumption.
Musarara owns Alpha Grain (Alpha), which has also been selling the maize.
He confirmed his company’s handling of up to 18 000 tonnes of the
humidity-stricken “private maize”.
“This maize is not GMO, but was affected by humidity and, therefore, not
regarded fit for human consumption. As we speak, the consignment is being
sold as stock feed,” he said, stressing, though, that the consignment at
issue had not been condemned on the grounds that it was lab-grown or
artificial.
While the former Affirmative Action Group secretary-general said that the
grain was “spoilt” at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB)’s depots, company
chief executive Albert Mandizha could not elaborate on the issue — except a
terse response that only the national bio-safety office could address the
issue.
John Mafa, head of that division could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Earlier, his spokeperson Muriel Zemura could also not be drawn to comment on
the issue of the two “contaminated stocks” of maize and referred the Daily
News to GMB’s parent ministry, but Agriculture minister Joseph Made shot
back at the “policy” claims.
“They know better and must respond to your questions because we cannot
respond to such an operational issue,” he said.
Made emphasised, though, that as a leading white maize producer, Zimbabwe
would not allow any products or policies, which risk blemishing its
production record and output.
Musarara, meanwhile, confirmed selling part of his maize stock to big
companies which produce stock feed.
Speaking on behalf of Alpha Grain, Musarara said the purported furore over
the tainted grain was being fanned by business rivals, who were feeling the
heat over his $150 per tonne-price in stock feed maize, as opposed to their
$700-plus quotations.
An avowed Zanu PF supporter and functionary, Musarara particularly fingered
some large and Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed players as the backers of
“this negative campaign.”
As things stand, the Harare businessman and farmer is still continuing with
his grain sales and he insists he sells to animal feed producers only.
He admits he has no control over what happens when the grain leaves his or
any other millers’ depots.
A distinguished flour producer – and maize processor — Musarara also enjoys
a toll milling arrangement with Victoria Foods.