News / National
Millers want Musarara re-elected
01 Sep 2020 at 02:52hrs | Views
Some millers have started canvassing for re-election of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) national chairman, Tafadzwa Musarara and his entire executive "because of the role they played in providing wisdom to the association".
The call for Musarara's re-election was endorsed during the millers' extra-ordinary virtual meeting which, among other issues, reviewed the roller meal subsidy programme. The meeting also reviewed private grain imports aimed at providing food to vulnerable communities.
GMAZ acting general manager Garikai Chaunza confirmed the meeting, which he said did not deal with elections only, but the food situation in the country.
"Sure, millers had an extraordinary meeting and did not, however, discuss elections only, but also private wheat and maize imports and the general food situation," Chaunza said.
Some millers who attended the meeting said they wanted Musarara, whose term of office expires this year, to be re-elected.
"We believe chairman Musarara and his executive have travelled a rocky journey and had a good fight, given the nature of the milling industry, which is critical to the nation, and also that the association is always in the spotlight. All this requires a visionary leader," a Mutare-based miller said on condition of anonymity.
"I proposed that the chairman and his team be given another run to finish pending issues in the form of contracts to enable a flow of leadership in the relationships forged by the association."
The GMAZ's constitution gives executive members three years in the office.
The current executive's term expired in June 2020 and the elections could not be held because of COVID-19 restrictions.
"As millers, we believe the chairman and his current executive have contracts and agreements with the government and other critical stakeholders in the industry which they are yet to conclude and starting over might not be ideal at the moment as there are trust issues to be considered," the Mutare-based miller added.
Another miller from Harare added: "Yes, I attended the meeting and we are in agreement as millers that Musarara and his hardworking team should be retained.
"At a critical time where the nation is struggling to procure maize and the association, through the leadership of Musarara, has currently secured 100 000 tonnes of maize and it is also in the process of sourcing another 200 000 tonnes of the same and all this effort could be wasted should we elect a new leadership."
The millers said the meeting concluded that in as much as they had agreed to retain Musarara, "we cannot overrule the constitution in its need for an elective conference".
"It would be ideal to have the AGM and retain or vote the same executive members into office. The procedure has to follow the constitution statutes".
Millers said the GMAZ national executive committee which is the body's highest decision-making organ will urgently meet this week and set the virtual election date. The last elective conference for the 105-member GMAZ was held in Harare in June 2017.
The call for Musarara's re-election was endorsed during the millers' extra-ordinary virtual meeting which, among other issues, reviewed the roller meal subsidy programme. The meeting also reviewed private grain imports aimed at providing food to vulnerable communities.
GMAZ acting general manager Garikai Chaunza confirmed the meeting, which he said did not deal with elections only, but the food situation in the country.
"Sure, millers had an extraordinary meeting and did not, however, discuss elections only, but also private wheat and maize imports and the general food situation," Chaunza said.
Some millers who attended the meeting said they wanted Musarara, whose term of office expires this year, to be re-elected.
"We believe chairman Musarara and his executive have travelled a rocky journey and had a good fight, given the nature of the milling industry, which is critical to the nation, and also that the association is always in the spotlight. All this requires a visionary leader," a Mutare-based miller said on condition of anonymity.
"I proposed that the chairman and his team be given another run to finish pending issues in the form of contracts to enable a flow of leadership in the relationships forged by the association."
The GMAZ's constitution gives executive members three years in the office.
The current executive's term expired in June 2020 and the elections could not be held because of COVID-19 restrictions.
"As millers, we believe the chairman and his current executive have contracts and agreements with the government and other critical stakeholders in the industry which they are yet to conclude and starting over might not be ideal at the moment as there are trust issues to be considered," the Mutare-based miller added.
Another miller from Harare added: "Yes, I attended the meeting and we are in agreement as millers that Musarara and his hardworking team should be retained.
"At a critical time where the nation is struggling to procure maize and the association, through the leadership of Musarara, has currently secured 100 000 tonnes of maize and it is also in the process of sourcing another 200 000 tonnes of the same and all this effort could be wasted should we elect a new leadership."
The millers said the meeting concluded that in as much as they had agreed to retain Musarara, "we cannot overrule the constitution in its need for an elective conference".
"It would be ideal to have the AGM and retain or vote the same executive members into office. The procedure has to follow the constitution statutes".
Millers said the GMAZ national executive committee which is the body's highest decision-making organ will urgently meet this week and set the virtual election date. The last elective conference for the 105-member GMAZ was held in Harare in June 2017.
Source - Newsday
