GMB Deploys Crack Team To Check On Illegal Maize Dealers

The Grain Marketing Board has reportedly deployed a crack team to check on illegal maize dealers following the introduction of Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 which prohibits transportation and selling of maize by private payers.

In an interview with the Sunday Mail, GMB chief executive officer, Mr Rockie Mutenha, said that the team was working together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police. He said:

Third party storage warehouses are being monitored to identify illegal storage of maize in contravention of the Statutory Instrument.

We re-established the GMB inspectorate that is working with the ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police) and AMA (Agricultural Marketing Authority) to enforce the Statutory Instrument.

GMB inspectorate officers have been deployed to monitor illegal maize buying and selling points and inspectors are armed with seizure certificates in case they find individuals breaking the law.

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He also added that the GMB officers are under instruction not to receive maize from middlemen. He added that they are empowered to seize maize from those illegally possessing it.

SI 145 was introduced at a time when the country is facing severe starvation due to the El-Nino induced drought and Tropical Cyclone Idai that destroyed crops a few weeks before the harvesting time.

The current grain deficit can also be attributed to corruption after about US$3 billion meant for the Command Agriculture Programme reportedly went missing.

President Mnangagwa recently announced that the country would need about 800 000 tonnes of maize whilst the United Nations has revealed that the situation in the country had now moved from crisis to emergency.

More: Sunday Mail