21 October 2008
Grain Marketing Board (GMB) employees are diverting the little grain reaching the southern parts of the country to the black market, where they are trading in foreign currency and livestock, investigations have revealed.
The massive shortage of maize throughout the region has pushed the price of a 50kg bag of the scarce commodity from R100 a month ago to around R250 on the parallel market.
Aid agencies apportion blame partly on the worsening food shortages, described as worse than those encountered during the 1992 drought, on government's skewed grain distribution programme.
Three syndicates involving GMB employees that diverted tonnes of maize meant for distribution to starving villagers and urban dwellers have been busted in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South in the past month but sources said this was only a tip of the iceberg.
The latest case involves the manager of the GMB's Esigodini depot, Bhekani Ncube and Thembinkosi Sibanda, a clerk, who allegedly acquired several cars and livestock after selling maize in foreign currency.
The two appeared before the magistrates' court in Esigodini last Wednesday facing charges of criminal abuse of office after they were arrested for stealing more than a tonne of maize.
Matshobana Ncube, who represented Sibanda, said they were remanded in custody to October 29 as police said they needed at least a week to wind up their investigations.
"Police said they were still following leads that they had cars in Zvishavane and Bulawayo that were connected to the case," he said. "There were also allegations that they also exchanged cattle for more than a tonne of maize in Maphisa."
The scandal was unearthed after villagers from Umzingwane district laid siege to the depot, demanding a stop to the "clandestine" distribution of maize.
In another case the Bulawayo, city council was drawn into the scandal after GMB employees bought more than seven tonnes of maize on the pretext that it was meant for Thorngrove Hospital.
"These purchases were made between April and July 2008," read a council report. "The council's department of Health confirmed that the last requisition to the GMB was made in November 2007 and delivery had been taken in December."
Several GMB employees are also awaiting trial in Matabeleland North after they were caught selling maize in foreign currency.
A number of Zanu PF and government officials have been accused of using their links to corruptly acquire maize for resale on the black market.
The GMB is reportedly selling a tonne of maize for $800 000 but deliveries to Matabeleland have been inadequate since the beginning of the year. This has left those with connections within the country's sole grain buyer and seller able to buy grain for resale.
Reports say villagers in the country's remote area are surviving on wild fruits and vegetables, while those in Binga depend on fish only as they cannot get maize from the GMB.
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