The ManicaPost
Tanyaradzwa Mujati
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT’S undertaking to heavily descend on all those abusing Presidential inputs schemes resulted in the quick arrest and prosecution of two dealers who were recently found in possession of Pfumvudza inputs worth US$7 242 at Sakubva Roundabout in Mutare.
Rollings Thondlana (32) of Rimai Business Centre in Chipinge and Norbert Chinyowa (36) of Vengere, Rusape, appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Langton Carter charged with unlawful sale, purchase and possession of agricultural inputs and contract produce as defined in Section 50 of the Agricultural Marketing Authority Act (Chapter 18:24); as read with Section Six of the Agricultural Marketing Authority (Command Agricultural Scheme for domestic crop, livestock and fisheries production regulations ) SI 79/2017.
They both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to four months imprisonment with the option of a fine of $70 000 each.
Mr Thurstone Mubvumbi prosecuted.
Mr Mubvumbi said Thondlana and Chinyowa were arrested for possessing 213x50kg bags of Compound D cotton fertiliser on November 21 at Sakubva Roundabout in Mutare.
He said sometime in October, Chinyowa assigned Thondlana to look for farmers who were selling fertiliser around Chipinge area.
Between October and November, Thondlana managed to buy 133x 50kg bags of Superfert Cotton Bulk Blend fertiliser at US$10 per bag from local farmers.
He stocked them in his shop at Ririmai Business Centre.
The court heard that on November 20, Thondlana phoned Chinyowa and informed him that he had managed to buy 133x50kg of fertiliser that was ready for collection.
Chinyowa went to Thondlana’s shop at Checheche with a truck that was being driven by Trust Mangwana.
Testifying in court, Thondlana said: “Chinyowa loaded the Pfumvudza inputs into his truck and we proceeded to Matikwa Village which is under Chief Musikavanhu’s area where he met Prince Simango. He bought 80x50kg Superfert Cotton Bulk Blend fertiliser at US$10 per bag and loaded it into his truck. Chinyowa instructed his driver to drive the load to Rusape.”
On November 21, detectives from Mutare received information that Thondlana was in possession of Command Agriculture fertiliser and launched their investigations.
The detectives gathered that a lorry loaded with fertiliser was on its way to Mutare en route Rusape and intercepted it at Sakubva Roundabout.
“The detectives signalled the driver of the truck to stop and pull off the road. He complied.
‘‘The detectives identified themselves and asked Mangwana about the consignment which he was carrying, and he said he was carrying 213x50kg Superfert Cotton Bulk Blend fertiliser.
‘‘The detectives asked Mangwana to produce any documents allowing him to ferry the fertiliser, but he failed to produce anything. He implicated Chinyowa as the owner of the consignment,” said Mr Mubvumbi.
Investigations revealed that Chinyowa had bought the fertiliser from Thondlana.
Checks were made on the consignment and the detectives discovered that the fertiliser was part of the inputs distributed under the Presidential Agricultural Scheme.
The value of the recovered fertiliser is US$7 242 and everything was recovered.
The fertiliser was forfeited to the State.
