Millers rubbish vote-buying grain talk

04 Dec, 2016 - 00:12 0 Views
Millers rubbish vote-buying grain talk

The Sunday Mail

Livingstone Marufu Sunday Mail Reporter —
THE Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has secured a GBP20 million maize payment matching facility from an arm of the British government to procure sufficient maize stocks in the country until local harvest in August 2017.

They have been granted the loan facility by the Department for International Development (DIFD) to obtain Nostro dollars so as to meet their maize payment obligations.

GMAZ chairman Mr Tafadzwa Musarara told The Sunday Mail that the grant is strictly a loan facility which should be repaid within the stipulated time.

“The Department for International Development, an arm of the British government, has granted the various members of Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe a GBP20 Million maize payment matching facility.

“The facility will enable milling companies to meet their international maize payment obligations in order to procure sufficient maize stocks in the country until local harvest in August 2017,” said Mr Musarara. This comes amid allegations of vote-buying from some quarters of the media. The GMAZ dismissed the allegations as baseless and unfounded.

“This is a strict business arrangement which should not be politicised by anyone or any media house for whatever reason.

“The scheme, available at no interest or any charges, is a big boost to national food security as it will ensure availability of maize meal across the country, especially in the drought stricken areas that are being supported by donors through monthly cash payouts,” said Mr Musarara.

He said the maize purchased under this facility will be available and accessible to all bona fide members of the GMAZ. Under the arrangement, storage points shall be in Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo conveniently identified so that all milling companies can obtain the maize and sustain the current prices.

Mr Musarara went on, “The GMAZ is grateful to the British government for this gesture and hopeful that further funds will be available next year so that the milling industry obtains Nostro dollars to meet their maize payment obligations.

“We won’t let people starve.”

On several occasions, the private media and opposition parties have alleged that food aid distributions are done along party lines. Government has strongly denied this allegation, stating that people are given food aid according to their needs. Zanu PF, through the leadership of President Robert Mugabe, has vowed that no one will starve.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira said, “We are responsible for the welfare of all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation.

“I never ever said that food would be given according to partisan lines —never. It is the mischievous press which reported wrongly…I have said I am available to any Zimbabwean.

“Food is available and we have never said we have run out of food and as a minister, I am available to all political parties and I will give everyone … I think people are not aware of the process of food distribution.”

GMAZ’s GBP 20 million facility is expected to be rolled out before the end of December.  The association expects to import maize from Brazil, Mexico, Ukraine and Tanzania for distribution across the country’s provinces. It has already acquired 99 wagons and some locomotives that will be used to transport the maize.

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