SCANDAL ridden Grain Marketing Board (GMB) is under fire for late disbursements of payments to farmers amid allegations that some top officials are buying forex on the streets and later make good payments after three weeks.
Zim Morning Post investigations established that due to the speculative nature of the economy, some bosses in the finance department buy forex on the market soon after Treasury releases funds.
“What these guys do is when Treasury releases funds to GMB, the guys delay payments and spin the money making huge profits.
“This prejudices farmers who will have invested in their farming activities,”said our trusted source.
Currently, a tonne of maize is going for ZWL21 000, and the standard cut off date of payment is three days but farmers now receive their money in three weeks.
“This is grossly unfair. We work hard in the farms expecting prompt payments so that we buy inputs, but the situation is dire,” said a disgruntled Makonde based farmer who preferred anonymity.
GMB is the major grains buyer in the country and government has supported the entity through releasing funds for construction of silos but allegations of abuse of funds has trailed the state enterprise perennially.
Recently, finance manager Constance Dzenga was fired while communications executive Zemura and Information technology manager identified as T Ganda were suspended for alleged incompetence.
