Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa yesterday admitted that the government’s Command Agriculture project may have its shortcomings but it had exceeded government expectations.
He said disagreements over the project were not a hindrance because the programme was actually moving successfully.
“The fact that people are not agreeing and appear like dogs barking does not stop the programme from moving on smoothly,” he said.
Chinamasa said the programme was initially funded by energy company Sakunda but it had now been joined y commercial banks.
He challenged those querying its financing to come up with alternative funders who could finance the project under the same terms as Sakunda.
“ If anyone has money to pay ZFC, Windmill and SEEDCO right now as we speak, for the tonnes I require to give to people next week but being paid back next year at an interest rate below 5%, they should come forward so that government can borrow that money,” he said.
Full Q &A:
*HON. MUKUPE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir. Where I come from, the high density suburbs, we are deeply disturbed. There are sittings that you hold as Cabinet and you make agreements that this is now Government policy, but we realise that others in the social media say the opposite and that then gives us confusion as to what policy says. My question is related to the issue that was a brain child of the First Lady Dr. Mugabe on Command Agriculture. What exactly is happening in terms of funding of the Command Agriculture? Right now as a populace, we are confused. We do not know what to listen to anymore.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. CHINAMASA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I will not respond to what people say. I will only respond to the question what is the policy of Government on Command Agriculture.
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