The Sunday Mail
Despite a ban on importation of agricultural produce that is available locally, the market continues to be flooded by tomatoes, onions and potatoes from outside Zimbabwe.
The Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Ministry in April issued a statement banning importation of such produce as a way of protecting local farmers.
Local horticulture farmers have complained of falling prices and reduced market access because retailers, restaurants and hotels prefer imports.
A survey by The Sunday Mail in Harare last week showed that imports, largely from South Africa, were awash on the local market.
At Mbare Musika, middlemen, commonly known as “makoronyera”, were repackaging imports to make them appear to be local produce.
Tomatoes and potatoes are being imported in wooden boxes marked apples, and then these are then repackaged at Mbare.
A crate of the repackaged tomatoes was selling for US$5 while the potatoes were going for between US$8 and US$10.
Local potatoes go for between US$10 and US$15.
“These are coming from South Africa and as such are cheaper than what our farmers from Mutoko demand. You see those women there with their boxes of tomatoes are from Mutoko but cannot sell because of the high price they are demanding. They have no choice but to drop their prices if they want to go home with cash,” said middleman Mr Peter Musonza.
Mr Gedion Chese of Hwedza, who grows tomatoes and onions, said he was having a hard time competing with the imports.
“I realised that these tomatoes that were being sold for US$5 a crate were being repacked from the wooden boxes that were labelled apples. When I asked these ‘makoronyera’ where the tomatoes were from, they told me they were imports from South Africa being smuggled in by those with connections at the borders,” said Mr Chese.
Agriculture Deputy Minister Davies Marapira said the ministry would investigate the matter.
“There is need to work together in earnest as Government puts in place corrective measures. But as you know, people are capable of doing anything. It is even worse when these products are brought into the country through illegal points,” he said.
According to the South African Cost of Living Index Expatistan, a kilogramme of tomatoes costs R17 (US$1, 59) while the Johannesburg Market shows that as of August 8, 2014 a tonne was selling for R3 070 (about US$300).
Zimbabwe Indigenous Commercial Farmers’ Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said protection of local farmers was long overdue.
“We have a situation where even our big supermarkets shun locally produced products even if these are of high quality and GMO-free. The major reason is that the same outlets are owned by those against the land reform programme and as such are doing everything possible to destroy local farmers,” he said.
Mr Chabikwa said people had been brainwashed into believing that imports were always better.
“There is a mindset which must be changed so that we appreciate our own as well as support our farmers.”
By Emilia Zindi – Agriculture Editor
