GMB Officials, Villagers Selling Food Aid in Zimbabwe
Gibbs Dube
19.09.2012
Some senior Grain Marketing Board (GMB) officials and villagers in Gwanda
Central are reportedly diverting drought relief aid and selling it for up to
$10 a bucket as the food situation deteriorates in Zimbabwe.
According to parliamentary agriculture committee member, Patrick Dube, the
diversion of drought relief aid has left thousands of people without food in
most parts of Matabeleleand South.
Dube said a 10 kilogram bucket of maize which fetches $5 in retail shops is
now being sold for $10 dollars in the black market.
He claimed that the maize is being diverted by some politicians linked to
President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party and several GMB officials who were
not available for comment.
“One of the local councilors is working hand in hand in these shady grain
deals with as aspiring senator linked to the former ruling party,” said
Dube.
He said the government needs to intervene to stop the illegal maize deals.
The United Nations World Food Program said recently that it is closely
monitoring the crippling drought situation in the country and lobbying
stakeholders for the provision of food and other resources to the affected
families.
Zimbabwe has pledged 35,000 tonnes of maize and the WFP is working with
other organizations to secure additional aid.
Close to 1.6 million people, 60 percent higher than the one million that
needed assistance during the last lean season, will need food aid by March
next year.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and Australia have provided $11.5 million to
help Zimbabwean smallholders farmers under the food and agricultural
organisation’s agricultural inputs program.