Governor linked to looting of fertiliser
November 30, 2009
By Owen Chikari
MASVINGO – A massive looting scam of agricultural inputs meant to benefit the poor by senior Zanu-PF officials has been unearthed here following the discovery of over 180 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser stashed in a private warehouse believed to belong to Masvingo governor and resident minister Titus Maluleke.
Police in Masvingo have indicated that they are investigating several senior Zanu- PF officials including the governor. The fertiliser was allegedly looted from the Grain Marketing Board where it was supposed to be distributed mainly to communal farmers.
Police sources say the fertiliser was found in a private warehouse in the suburb of Rhodene and preliminary investigations have shown that the consignment belonged to the Maluleke.
“We recovered about 180 tonnes of AN fertiliser from a private warehouse in town and our investigations have pointed out that the governor had a hand in a deal”, said a police source.
“We have since impounded the consignment but no one has been arrested yet. We are casting our net wide since we have information that senior Zanu-PF officials are allegedly looting inputs from the GMB.”
Maluleke yesterday confirmed that the consignment belonged to him and that he had receipts to prove that he bought it from the GMB.
“The fertiliser is mine and I bought it”, he said. I have receipts and I know those who have impounded the product will soon give me back my things.”
Senior government officials mainly those belonging to Zanu-PF are allegedly using their political muscle to grab the commodity ahead of the intended beneficiaries.
Fertiliser is currently in very short supply in the country and where it is available the prices are very high, placing it beyond the reach of many.
In an effort to support the agricultural sector the inclusive government has provided farming inputs to be distributed by the GMB to farmers at very low prices.
It also emerged yesterday that only people with Zanu-PF links were accessing the inputs while those believed to belong to other political parties were denied access.
“We have been going to the GMB for several weeks and have been getting nothing”, complained one farmer who refused to be named for fear of victimisation. “What is surprising is that known Zanu-PF activist are having no problems in accessing the inputs”.
Maluleke becomes the second Masvingo resident minister to be implicated in a fertiliser scam.
Former governor Willard Chiwewe was implicated in a similar scandal in 2006. He was however not prosecuted because senior police officers blocked his prosecution and ordered him to pay an admission of guilty fine.
Last year several legislators were allocated agricultural inputs. They were prosecuted for abusing the facility.
Gutu East MP Rensome Makamure, Edmore Marima (Bikita East), and Heya Shoko (Bikita West), all of them members of the Morgan Tsvangirai MDC as well as Irvin Dzingirayi (Chivi South) of Zanu-PF, among others, well acquitted on charges of fraud involving farming inputs.
Ernest Mudavanhu (Zaka North), who represents the MDC-T was found guilty of abusing the facility and is currently out on bail pending appeal.
Tachiona Mharadze (Masvingo West) and Evelyn Masaiti, the Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs are currently on trial for allegedly abusing the government sourced farming inputs facility.
Both were elected to Parliament of the ticket of the same MD
Additional Reporting: The Zimbabwe Times
Posted by Wellington Chadehumbe
on November 30, 2009. Filed under Main Headline.
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