Why Zimbabwe’s cash-strapped government wants famers to sell “command” maize through the GMB

HON. SEN. MARAVA:  I hear you Hon. Minister and I thank you for agreeing that Government has changed goal posts because we were looking at the same buyer.  Remember our country is made up of 70% of rural people, most of whom are not on the Command Agriculture Scheme.  We expect also those people to benefit by selling directly through the ‘willing buyer – willing seller’ scheme which is very profitable to everybody and it is quicker.  Hon. Minister, I think you should look into it again.  How about re-looking into that so that most of our people who will benefit from selling to private people can continue benefiting – [AN HON. MEMBER:  Inaudible interjections.] –  Can you protect me.  There is a lot of disturbances from that corner. I think it is Hon. somebody there.

THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF SENATE:  It is no longer a question, you are now…

HON. SEN. MARAVA: Yes, coming from you it is alright but not from him.

HON. ZHANDA:  I think I did explain the reasons very well.  As I said, if a commodity is deregulated, Government is not saying it is law but is encouraging people to market their produce through GMB, for the purposes that I have explained.  As I also alluded to, if you look at the record this past rainy season, every farmer was paid within a specified period, the US$390.  Therefore, I do not think it is in the interest of this House, given the example that I have given you on cotton and the same with maize as well as alluding to what you have actually acknowledged that this Command Agriculture has produced results, which are for the benefit of this country.  So, we would wish and want the programme to continue in the years to come but if we allow the side marketing of that crop and avoid paying back from where we got the money, I really do not know what this House will stand for.  I thank you.

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