News / Press Release
Command Dog's Breakfast manifesting at GMB Deports
21 Jun 2017 at 10:38hrs | Views
The chaos brewing outside Grain Market Board depots is a reflection of the concerns the PDP have always shared about the incompetence of this government, its lack of vision and the inability to plan ahead.
It is also a vindication of our expression of the fact that ZANUPF beneficiaries of the Command Agriculture scheme would not pay back the money.
Our concern has always been that the failure to repay by the beneficiaries will result in the ZANUPF government shipping off the burden to the already highly taxed citizen through another Debt Adoption Act.
Suffice to say the loan itself was acquired on vicious terms from a source which belongs to shady individuals who have directly captured senior politicians in government. The captured individuals ensured the loan is swiftly passed through a sleeping legislature which failed to perform its oversight role as dictated by the laws of the land.
It is a dog's breakfast even by the admittance of ZANUPF members in Cabinet who now call it "Command Ugly Culture."
The fact that the grain produced by some farmers under the scheme is now being sold on the black market means there is no direct way to recover the money owed.
As a matter of fact, the ZANUPF government will not even try to find alternative ways to follow up on the defaulters considering the fact that it is election season, ZANUPF obviously values the narrow agenda of power retention than accountability.
Another issue of concern is the failure by the state to provide technical knowledge to the farmers especially those purported to be producing under State Guaranteed programs.
The fact that the Grain Marketing Board is rejecting grain based on moisture levels above the desired standard reveals that the farmers have not been empowered with the knowledge.
We mentioned in the Holistic Program for Economic Transformation (HOPE) that the state has a role to enhance research and extension services.
In HOPE we also state the importance of reform of markets for agricultural produce, that the unfortunate illegal dealings in tobacco production must be curbed. Sadly the same is reproducing itself in the sale of cereals.
Marketing of cereals produce such as maize, wheat must be given a priority through the establishment of a National Agricultural Marketing Framework meant to ensure food security as opposed to an export leaning agenda especially in the era of unpredictable rain seasons.
We also state that the unfinished business of Agrarian Reform must not simply focus on raising the incomes of small-scale farmers but create employment via backward and forward linkages in rural and urban areas.
The absence of a proper produce marketing framework deals a significant blow to such an agenda.
As we mention in HOPE, Agricultural marketing strategies must form a foundation in the creation of Industrial Clusters and Special Processing Zones.
We therefore suggest the restoration of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Commodity Exchange abolished by the ZANUPF Government in 2000.
Together Another Zimbabwe is Possible
It is also a vindication of our expression of the fact that ZANUPF beneficiaries of the Command Agriculture scheme would not pay back the money.
Our concern has always been that the failure to repay by the beneficiaries will result in the ZANUPF government shipping off the burden to the already highly taxed citizen through another Debt Adoption Act.
Suffice to say the loan itself was acquired on vicious terms from a source which belongs to shady individuals who have directly captured senior politicians in government. The captured individuals ensured the loan is swiftly passed through a sleeping legislature which failed to perform its oversight role as dictated by the laws of the land.
It is a dog's breakfast even by the admittance of ZANUPF members in Cabinet who now call it "Command Ugly Culture."
The fact that the grain produced by some farmers under the scheme is now being sold on the black market means there is no direct way to recover the money owed.
As a matter of fact, the ZANUPF government will not even try to find alternative ways to follow up on the defaulters considering the fact that it is election season, ZANUPF obviously values the narrow agenda of power retention than accountability.
Another issue of concern is the failure by the state to provide technical knowledge to the farmers especially those purported to be producing under State Guaranteed programs.
The fact that the Grain Marketing Board is rejecting grain based on moisture levels above the desired standard reveals that the farmers have not been empowered with the knowledge.
We mentioned in the Holistic Program for Economic Transformation (HOPE) that the state has a role to enhance research and extension services.
In HOPE we also state the importance of reform of markets for agricultural produce, that the unfortunate illegal dealings in tobacco production must be curbed. Sadly the same is reproducing itself in the sale of cereals.
Marketing of cereals produce such as maize, wheat must be given a priority through the establishment of a National Agricultural Marketing Framework meant to ensure food security as opposed to an export leaning agenda especially in the era of unpredictable rain seasons.
We also state that the unfinished business of Agrarian Reform must not simply focus on raising the incomes of small-scale farmers but create employment via backward and forward linkages in rural and urban areas.
The absence of a proper produce marketing framework deals a significant blow to such an agenda.
As we mention in HOPE, Agricultural marketing strategies must form a foundation in the creation of Industrial Clusters and Special Processing Zones.
We therefore suggest the restoration of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Commodity Exchange abolished by the ZANUPF Government in 2000.
Together Another Zimbabwe is Possible
Source - Jacob Mafume - PDP Spokesperson
