The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
UNSCRUPULOUS fertiliser dealers are allegedly working in cahoots with truck drivers transporting Government imported fertiliser from Mozambique to steal substantial amounts of the unpacked farming input and divert it to the black market, The Manica Post Business has learnt.
The web of illegal transactions in farming inputs, mainly fertiliser, has seen some corrupt Agritex officers faking lists of beneficiaries for various Government sponsored input schemes.
It has been established that some of these officials are either including names of deceased farmers or non-existent persons.
Investigations conducted by this newspaper, which involved subtle interactions with local dealers and truck drivers, revealed that truck drivers transporting imported unpacked fertiliser in containers from Mozambique take time to offload part of the consignment in Mutare before proceeding to Harare where the commodity is packaged for distribution at Government cost.
The unpacked fertiliser is offloaded at unconventional points, including residential areas in Mutare and Rusape, from where the commodity finds its way onto the market where it is sold in buckets and small packs for varying amounts.
Some dealers are sourcing yellow and green bags to repackage the commodity and channel it to the black market.
Upon presenting himself as a local fertiliser dealer in need of the commodity during a two-hour chat with dealers at Forbes Border Post recently, this reporter was told by a truck driver transporting the commodity from Mozambique to Harare that they prefer to deal with their usual clients or those referred to them by established ones.
“I cannot just get into that deal with you. We have known each other for just one hour and I cannot trust you with my life.
“If you are serious, do your research and get to know someone in our circles so that they can accompany you. There are many of them,” he said.
However, a local fertiliser dealer inadvertently confided in The Manica Post Business that they have benefited so much from loopholes in the inputs distribution system with the help of Agritex officers.
“We get this product at a very cheap price and that enables us to put our mark up and make a profit.
“ It has been a lucrative season for us. We have been in the business for a long time now.
“I can safely tell you that when we rake in our profits, we will have enough money to rest at home and feed our families until the next farming season,” he said.
While a 50kg bag of fertiliser costs between US$40 and US$45 on the formal market, those looted from various Government’s inputs schemes are going for around US$25 to US$30.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr John Basera told this publication that the responsible authorities will work flat out to bring the culprits to book.
“This is something that we had not noticed and surely needs our attention. We will be analysing the situation at the Joint Operation Command (JOC) level and all security systems will be activated to avoid pilferage of inputs. This is something that we take seriously.
“We will also ensure that those found on the wrong side of the law get punitive penalties.
“Depending on the levels or merits of each case, very deterrent punishments will be meted out on those facilitating pilferage of inputs,” he said.
Dr Basera confirmed that they have had cases of Agritex officers short-changing farmers by diverting inputs to the market for personal gain.
He said some of them were caught and dealt with accordingly.
“We have had cases of Agritex officers who were found on the wrong side of the law as they tried to steal farming inputs for personal gain. Those who were caught were either suspended or fired, while some were subjected to normal court processes.
“We have a zero tolerance stance against abuse of farming inputs. We are aware that some rogue elements within the society and our ministry are dealing in farming inputs, but their days are numbered,” said Dr Basera.
The farming inputs schemes that are currently running include the climate-proofed Presidential Inputs Scheme and the National Enhanced Agriculture Production Scheme (NEAPS), commonly known as Command Agriculture.
Under the Presidential Scheme, farmers are accessing inputs from local GMB depots, with the inputs delivered to their wards. There are committees at district and ward levels, with the technical assistance of Agritex officers being employed to distribute the inputs.
