News / National
Tsvangira wants GMB to be probed
30 Aug 2011 at 09:51hrs | Views
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai wants the Grain Marketing Board to be investigated over allegations of failure to pay farmers who deliver their produce to the national ginnery.
Tsvangirai's reaction follows representations by farmers in Mashonaland Central over the GMB's financial dealings after the national food storehouse failed to pay the farmers. The farmers complained to Tsvangirai over producer prices for maize. GMB buys maize at US$285 per tonne.
"WE ask you to take to government our concerns because the price of maize does not make us viable", said Sheperd Mushonga, MP for Mazowe Central.
The GMB received more than $100 million from Treasury for onward payment to farmers for maize. The national ginnery has over the years failed to pay farmers in time leading to the growers failing to purchase inputs on time.
Some farmers told Tsvangirai that they have been waiting for payment from the GMB for more than eight months.
Tsvangirai said it was unacceptable for GMB to take that long before paying farmers.
GMB operations have been condemned almost every year with farmers alleging corruption at the national ginnery.
Tsvangirai's reaction follows representations by farmers in Mashonaland Central over the GMB's financial dealings after the national food storehouse failed to pay the farmers. The farmers complained to Tsvangirai over producer prices for maize. GMB buys maize at US$285 per tonne.
"WE ask you to take to government our concerns because the price of maize does not make us viable", said Sheperd Mushonga, MP for Mazowe Central.
The GMB received more than $100 million from Treasury for onward payment to farmers for maize. The national ginnery has over the years failed to pay farmers in time leading to the growers failing to purchase inputs on time.
Some farmers told Tsvangirai that they have been waiting for payment from the GMB for more than eight months.
Tsvangirai said it was unacceptable for GMB to take that long before paying farmers.
GMB operations have been condemned almost every year with farmers alleging corruption at the national ginnery.
Source - MDC-T
