Mat South faces grain distribution challenges

TRANSPORT problems have continued to hinder efforts to distribute grain in Matabeleland South, a situation that has affected the smooth implementation of the drought relief programme in the province. Speaking during a provincial drought mitigation meeting last week, Matabeleland South Acting Provincial Administrator Mr Peter Moyo said grain was now accumulating at Gwanda Grain Marketing Board depot giving an impression that the province was not affected by drought.

"We only have one truck from DDF which is used to distribute maize. Even the Zimbabwe Defence Forces cannot manage to transport all the grain.

"We should come up with a solution where community members contribute towards the transportation of their drought relief grain like what other provinces are doing. Other provinces are mobilising communities to pay $1 per head for transport. If we don't apply the same in this province, we will face challenges in distributing the food," he said.

Mr Moyo said he will engage traditional leaders to sell the idea of communities contributing to transportation of the grain.

"I urge all stakeholders in the province to go out and talk to the community leaders so that they mobilise their people to contribute."

GMB Gwanda manager Mr Mpumelelo Ndlovu said more than 1 500 tonnes of maize under the social service mitigation programme were stocked at the depot awaiting to be transported to various areas.

"Under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education there is a balance of 70,738 metric tonnes which were not distributed against a target of 165 400 since the inception of the drought relief maize.

"Something needs to be done so that the targeted communities can benefit," said Mr Ndlovu.