Zimbabwe -- Top Zanu PF officials in maize scam

Daily News (Zim) ^ | December 16, 2002 | Energy Bara in Masvingo

[Clive]

A maize scam in which known top Zanu PF officials are allegedly purchasing the scarce staple grain in large quantities for resale at exorbitant prices on the black market has hit Gutu district.

Three Grain Marketing Board (GMB) officers at Gutu Mupandawana growth point who were allegedly acting in concert with the politicians are under probe following the revelations that they were part of the scam.

Villagers have since called on the government to institute thorough investigations into the matter as hunger continues to tighten its grip on rural communities.

Some Zanu PF heavyweights, including politburo members, are allegedly taking advantage of the maize shortage to hoard large stocks of the staple food from the GMB using their influence. They later resell the grain at exorbitant prices to hungry villagers on the open market.

An official at the GMB depot at Gutu who refused to be named for fear of victimisation yesterday said: “Currently three of our officers are under investigation because of the maize scandal.

“The three employees were working hand-in-hand with well-known politicians to deprive people of food. After having used their influence to purchase maize at the depot, the politicians would establish illegal selling points on the open market where a 50-kilogram pack of maize would be sold for $6 500.”

The GMB retail price of a 50kg pack is less than $1 000. The police in Masvingo yesterday said they were investigating a number of cases in which the distribution and purchase of maize from the GMB depot in the province was not done properly. The Masvingo police spokesman, Learn Ncube, said: “Of late the distribution of maize has been going on well, save for a few cases where the exercise was not properly done. “We will continue to investigate those cases and we have so far arrested a Central Mechanical Equipment Department driver and a GMB salesman who were found dealing in maize.”

Meanwhile, villagers in Gutu district have called on President Mugabe to intervene and discipline members of his party who are involved in the maize scandal.

A spokesman for the villagers, Norbert Manyango, said they were shocked to learn that senior members of the party were using their influence to deprive people of food. Manyango said: “We can name the people who are involved in the maize scandal. It’s shocking that senior members of our party, Zanu PF, want hungry villagers to starve to death. We are calling on Mugabe to intervene otherwise people will die of hunger.”

Starvation has reached critical levels in Masvingo province where the entire population is in desperate need of food aid.

[Clive]

"Starvation has reached critical levels in Masvingo province where the entire population is in desperate need of food aid."

The infamous Gukurahundi of 1983 took place in Matabeleland and Masvingo, the principle victims being Ndebele.

[Clive]

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[happygrl]

Masvingo is near the border.

I suggest that they start walking instead of making useless pleas to Comrade Bob.

[longshadow]

"A spokesman for the villagers, Norbert Manyango, said they were shocked to learn that senior members of the party were using their influence to deprive people of food."

This is is turning into a black comedy (no pun intended) straight out of the movie Casblanca:

Prefect of Police: "I'm shocked, shocked to discover gambling is going on in this cafe."

Waiter (arrives with a tray of large denomination bills): "Here you are, sir."

Prefect of Police (with feigned astonishment): "What's this?"

Waiter: "Your winnings, sir."

Prefect of Police: "Oh! Thank you very much!" (furtively pockets funds whilst looking around to see if anyone is watching.)

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Seriously, how can anyone be surprised by this? This is part of the the whole purpose in engineering a famine in the first place: to drive up black market prices while the distribution of food is controled by Mugabe's hacks and associates.

This gives them the twin benefits of profiteering whilst diverting food away from political opponents. Starving your opposition to death whilst becoming filthy rich in the process has to be every tyrant's dream.

[Clive]

I agree that no one should be surprised. There have been numerous reported instances of use of food as a political weapon and profiteering by Zanu PF cadre.

Yet we still hear WFP officials claiming that they have no evidence of systematic diversion of food relief for political or profit purposes.

[longshadow]

Yet we still hear WFP officials claiming that they have no evidence of systematic diversion of food relief for political or profit purposes.

Please forgive my ignorance:

WFP = ?

[Clive]

WFP = World Food Programme

This is the United Nations agency through which famine relief is provided.

US maize sent for famine relief goes to the WFP and is distributed by it.

[longshadow]

WFP = World Food Programme This is the United Nations agency through which famine relief is provided. US maize sent for famine relief goes to the WFP and is distributed by it.

Ahhhhhhh.

So the UN is turning a blind eye toward Mugabe's agrigultural terrorism and the plundering profits made by his associates in black marketeering of food supplies. I guess this makes them aiders and abettors of terrorism.

Sounds like we need to target the UN for a B-2 mission.

;-)