Published by the government of Zimbabwe
10 November 2009
Harare — Government yesterday disbursed 3 000 tonnes of maize-meal to beneficiaries drawn from the country's 10 provinces.
The 3 000 tonnes of maize-meal that arrived in the country last week are part of the 9 000 tonnes pledged by Zambian President Rupiah Banda in May this year.
It was distributed to children's homes, old people's homes, and districts and mission hospitals.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made, announced the distribution criteria to the country's governors and resident ministers who were tasked with the responsibility of distributing the maize-meal to the identified institutions in their provinces.
President Banda pledged the maize-meal during his visit to the country in May this year.
"Cabinet decided that the maize meal should go to institutions that deal with children, old people and people with disabilities, all Government district hospitals and mission hospitals," said Minister Made.
"Because maize-meal is a perishable commodity, it should be moved to the people with speed," he said.
Some of Harare's benefiting institutions are Bumhudzo Old Peoples' Home, Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre, Beatrice National Rehabilitation Centre, Mathew Rusike Children's Home, Chinyaradzo Children's Home, Emerald Hills, St Johns Boys Hostel among others.
He tasked the GMB to assist provinces with the movement of the maize meal.
Mashonaland Central provincial Governor, Cde Martin Dinha, said he would arrange transport from the beneficiary institutions in his province to ensure the speedy movement of the maize meal.
He paid tribute to the Government for coming up with such distribution criteria, saying it was the best that could have been done.
By yesterday afternoon, Cde Dinha was already co-ordinating the institutions to collect the maize meal from the GMB Cleveland depot in Harare.
The consignment for Matabeleland North and South provinces, which is still in Zambia, would enter the country through Victoria Falls by rail.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo, who was standing in for Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, received a consignment of over 3000 tonnes last week.
He hailed the good working relations between the GMB and the Food Reserve Agency of Zambia that led to the timely delivery.
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