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Businessman Kuda Tagwirei has denied allegations of misappropriating US$3 billion in State funds under the Command Agriculture programme.
He commented on the allegations while officiating a graduation ceremony at Solusi University where he was a guest of honour.
The US$3 billion was released by the government during the 2017 and 2018 agricultural seasons but was not accounted for by the agricultural ministry according to a report by the Auditor General.
Tagwirei, who sponsors the programme, said it has been successful and those who speak up against it are mere detractors. He said:
<blockquote>
I did a project proposal for contract farming which we now call Command Agriculture and I had a problem because there was what was called the RTGS at that time and there was no money which was moving out of the country, so I had this problem but at the same time, there was this bigger problem in the country.
I gave them (the proposal) in 2015, the government took one year thinking about it and when they were thinking about it they had offers from other people to do the same programme.
My interest rate was the lowest. It was 4%. When we started the programme, no one thought it was going to succeed and no one talked about it.
When it was successful in 2017, the US Agriculture Department wrote that Zimbabwe was doing one of the best things in command agriculture.
(But) when they began to think about who I was supporting and that I was supporting the government of the day, they then said he stole US$3 billion and I was placed on sanctions.
So, this is what I was trying to do. To try and make the land become successful.
</blockquote>
The government-funded Command Agriculture programme was ostensibly established to ensure food security.
However, critics say the programme has been used to loot funds by the political elite and their business associates. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/tagwirei-opens-up-on-command-agriculture-sabotage-for-the-first-time/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Pindula News

Kuda Tagwirei Opens Up On Command Agriculture, Denies Stealing US$3 Billion

Zimbabwe has turned to neighbouring Zambia to import 200 000 tonnes of maize to feed millions currently facing hunger in the country, after plans to import the same quantity of maize from Malawi in May did not bear fruit.
The deal was contested by the Malawi Parliament in Lilongwe because of a violation of tender procedures, NewsDay reported.
Zambia’s Consumer Association confirmed the maize deal. The Zambian consumer body spoke to NewsDay:
<blockquote>
According to the information, it’s more like a controlled export because we have some companies which have memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Congolese and Zimbabwean companies in order to fulfil the MoUs.
</blockquote>
Insiders close to millers and the Zimbabwean government say there have been hurdles around the importation of Malawian and Zambian maize.
Sources close to the developments said all permits have now been finalised paving way for the importation of maize from Zambia. 
It is reported that the maize is being imported by the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ).
This view was supported by Lands and Agriculture ministry secretary John Basera who said: 
<blockquote>
This maize is certainly not being imported by the government; it has to be private players.
We have 1.5 million tonnes of maize  from harvest this year plus 300 000t in small grain, then 500 000t carryover stock from last year that puts us at 2,3 million tonnes of grain versus our demand of 2,2 million tonnes.
</blockquote>
He said millers who failed to fund 40% of their local requirements locally were importing grain from neighbouring countries.
About 5.4 million (36%) of Zimbabweans are facing hunger in the current season, according to the World Food Programme.
This has brought the government under scrutiny after <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Command_Agriculture_2016">billions of dollars were used in recent years allegedly to boost the agriculture sector.</a>
Government critics say the money was abused by political elites.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Zimbabwe Importing Maize From Zambia After Collapse Of Malawi Deal

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested Raymond Mbedzi, a businessman who operates a warehouse at CSC (Southerton) in Harare for fraud.
In a statement, ZACC said Mbedzi allegedly mixed fertiliser acquired under the Command Agriculture facility with sand and stones, repackaged the adulterated product and sold it to unsuspecting farmers.
ZACC investigators recovered scales and a sack-sewing machine used by Mbedzi, as well as 170 empty Command Agriculture bags, 698 bags (50kgs) of Windmill fertiliser mixed with sand and 44 bags (50kgs) of Superfert fertiliser.
Mbedzi reportedly committed the offence between January and March 2022 and prejudiced the Government of US$35 598.
He is also accused of compromising the reputation of the Command Agriculture Programme, the fertilizer companies, Windmill and Superfert, whose packaging he used in committing the crime.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Harare Man Mixes Command Farming Fertiliser With Sand, Sells It To Farmers

The Sentry, a US-based anti-corruption watchdog, says Kuda Tagwirei made about $90-million in possibly unlawful payments from Zimbabwe’s central bank while running a controversial agricultural support programme. 
The report: Legal Tender? The Role of Sakunda and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in Command Agriculture, published on Thursday has indicated that business tycoon, who is a close adviser to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa used some of the profits to buy gold mines and a platinum mine
The Sentry says:
<blockquote>
#Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings won the $1-billion concession to run the Command Agriculture programme in 2016 without an open tendering process.
#The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) gave him local currency at far above the official exchange rate, in apparent violation of Zimbabwean law. 
#Tagwirei’s companies earned about $280-million while running Command Agriculture from 2016 to 2019. The programme was intended to boost agricultural production through the provision of inputs such as seed and fertiliser to commercial farmers. No official explanation was given for appointing an oil trading company to run an agricultural support programme. 
#Over the course of the three-year programme, Sakunda received $1.28-billion total – $230-million in hard currency and more than $1-billion in Treasury Bills – while providing inputs worth $1-billion: a surplus of $280-million.
#One of the Treasury Bills, for $366-million, was improperly redeemed at a favourable exchange rate by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe after a new law that should have reduced the US dollar value of such assets, the report said.
#RBZ gave Tagwirei the preferential exchange rate for the Treasury Bills to allow one of Tagwirei’s firms to pay the government for some gold mines and a Zimbabwean military-controlled company for its share of a platinum mining joint venture with a Russian conglomerate. 
</blockquote>
What Tagwirei’s company says:
<blockquote>
Sakunda, which denies any wrongdoing, testified in Zimbabwe’s Parliament that it received the favourable rate so that it could repay foreign suppliers – particularly of chemicals – in hard currency. 
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC):
<blockquote>
*Accused the RBZ and the Ministry of Finance of acting “outside the law”, a charge which they both denied.
*Said the RBZ acted unconstitutionally by issuing Treasury Bills to pay for Command Agriculture and many other projects, bypassing parliamentary approval of spending and borrowing.
*Accused the government of breaching procurement and public finance rules. In addition to the PAC, the Treasury’s own debt management office and the Auditor-General both raised similar alarms about the Command Agriculture programme and expressed concern about potential conflicts of interest.
</blockquote>
Finance ministry officials told the PAC that Sakunda had been chosen to run Command Agriculture without a tender process because it had said it had its own – scarce – foreign currency and so was able to supply the government on credit. 
But when it was put to these financial officials that the RBZ had provided Sakunda with $1-billion of foreign currency in Treasury Bills, they could offer no satisfactory response.
The Sentry’s investigation was assisted by Zimbabwean opposition leader and former finance minister Tendai Biti who is also a former PAC chair.
More: Daily Maverick

Tagwirei Made US$90 million In "Unlawful" Payments From RBZ

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has announced the arrest of a Rushinga man for selling the government’s agricultural inputs.
Police are still looking for the man who bought the inputs. Said the police in a statement this Monday:
<blockquote>
The ZRP warns the public against abuse of Government’s agricultural inputs facilities. On 19/11/21, ZRP Rushinga arrested Siyai Kakuruwo (43) after he sold fertilizer from Government’s cotton facility to Munyaradzi Mudzikatire at Mabvundudzi B/Centre.
Meanwhile, Police are looking for Munyaradzi Mudzikatire in connection with this case.
</blockquote>
 In a related case, police last week appealed to members of the public who might have information on the theft of maize seed at the Marondera Grain Marketing Board (GMB). Said the police in a statement:
<blockquote>
Police in Marondera are investigating circumstances surrounding a case of theft that occurred at Marondera Grain Marketing Board and was discovered on 17 November 2021. Unknown suspects stole 30 x5kg SC649 and 21 x 10kg PHB30G19 maize seed.
Anyone with information to contact ZRP Marondera Operations on 06523 27676 or report at any nearest Police Station.
</blockquote>
This is happening as farmers across the country are preparing for the 2021/2022 farming season. 
Inputs on formal markets are a bit expensive that <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/11/13/farmers-engage-government-over-inputs-prices/">farmers had to approach the Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, Dr Anxious Masuka</a>, to ask him to talk to seed-producing firms.
Meanwhile, inputs on the black market are a little bit lower as they are stolen or received as donations. 
<h2>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Seller And Buyer In Trouble Over Government Agricultural Inputs

Controversial Norton MP Temba Mliswa (Independent) has claimed that white Zimbabwean farmers benefitted from the Command Farming programme more than their indigenous counterparts.
Without providing evidence to back his claims, Mliswa accused white farmers of double-dipping, saying they “are funded by their own too through certain institutions” and also benefit from government programmes. <a href="https://twitter.com/TembaMliswa/status/1420669355822571520">Mliswa wrote in a Twitter thread:</a>
<blockquote>
On Command Agriculture, the whites have benefited much more than the indigenous people and yet they are funded by their own too through certain institutions which give them access to many meaning they double-dip. It’s been good for them indeed!
Zim is currently a huge party for most of them as they’re making more money now than during any other time. They’re doing as they please and racism is beginning to rear its ugly head again. They’re the ones who are reigniting these issues.
Minority groups should be reminded that this racism aspect will never be allowed to prevail. Other youngsters coming through are more radical. We’re a peace-loving nation but when the minority starts accumulating excessive wealth&amp;the majority are poor, it’s never a safe position
Local communities must benefit from empowerment drives implemented through corporate social responsibility initiatives. Amenities, schools, clinics, infrastructure etc have been neglected&amp;yet money’s being made, not that I encourage it, but inevitably it’ll backfire at some stage.
</blockquote>
Mliswa has, however, been criticised for his sentiments with one Shaun Snyder counter-accusing the former ZANU PF provincial chairman of racism. <a href="https://twitter.com/shaunsnyder97/status/1420673756221952000">Said Snyder:</a>
<blockquote>
Disappointing tweet thread. Keep playing the blame game and your “indigenous people” will stay poor. You of all people no the cause of the majorities impoverishment. Also, the white minority is hardly as racist as a certain Norton MP.
</blockquote>
Ady Preston challenged Mliswa to back his claims with facts and desist from making mere assumptions. <a href="https://twitter.com/Uhuru_P/status/1420677612901486594">Wrote Preston:</a>
<blockquote>
What’s the basis of your argument Hon. We need facts, not assumptions. Let’s look at the figures of what the so-called white farmers are delivering to GMB as compared to some farmers who are duping the govt by side marketing of maize and some selling the inputs on the black market.
</blockquote>
The Targeted Command Agriculture is an agricultural scheme aimed at ensuring food self-sufficiency that was introduced at the start of the 2016 – 2017 farming season following the drought of the previous season.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Command Farming Benefitting Whites More Than Blacks - Mliswa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken credit for the good rains Zimbabwe received during the 2020-2021 rain season saying it was him who allowed traditional leaders to conduct rainmaking ceremonies and religious leaders to pray for rains.
Mnangagwa made the remarks while addressing thousands of ZANU PF supporters gathered at Chief Njelele’s homestead in Gokwe for Zimbabwe at 40 national culture celebrations. He said:
<blockquote>_The rains had gone for many years. When this new dispensation came, we then said what should we do?  I summoned all the chiefs to come together and told them to go to their homes and conduct rituals, which they may have forgotten. I told them to go and do those rituals and pray so that we get rains. I also asked those from churches, ‘go and pray from your churches for the rains’, and the rains came. I thank you for the work that you did._</blockquote>
Mnangagwa takes credit for the rains when the country is expecting a bumper harvest this season and is poised to be out of starvation that was upon the country for years.
In the recent past, Zimbabwe has been importing grain from neighbouring countries and from as far as Brazil while sympathisers including Japan and the World Food Programme have been donating grain to the country that was at some point the breadbasket of SADC.
Since coming to power in 2017, Mnangagwa has, in addition to other efforts, been actively seeking supernatural intervention to end the country’s deep-rooted and multifaceted crisis.
<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/01/20/mother-of-the-nation-auxillia-mnangagwa-calls-for-3-days-of-prayer-fasting-against-corona/">He has led prayers</a> to undo Western-sponsored sanctions and also conjured the supernatural in the hope of attracting foreign direct investment.
On Tuesday, Mnangagwa will unveil the statue of the late spirit medium Mbuya Nehanda in central Harare, with the hope to appease ancestral spirits.
There are also reports that he is behind the alleged plans to exhume the remains of the late Robert Mugabe with the hope of retrieving a sceptre that is premised on turning the country’s fortunes around.

<ul>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/05/14/mugabes-sceptre-was-handed-over-to-kasukuwere-zivhu/">Mugabe’s Sceptre Was Handed Over To Kasukuwere – Zivhu</a></li>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/05/17/chief-zvimba-plaintiff-denounced-over-mugabe-exhumation/">Chief Zvimba, Plaintiff, Denounced Over Mugabe Exhumation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/05/13/mnangagwa-behind-push-to-exhume-mugabe-he-wants-mystic-tsvimbo-says-zhuwawo/">Mnangagwa Behind Push To Exhume Mugabe, He Wants ‘Mystic Tsvimbo’, Says Zhuwawo</a></li>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/03/19/pfumvudza-was-used-to-swindle-money-from-farmers-report/">Pfumvudza Was Used To Swindle Money From Farmers – Report</a></li>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/03/12/wadyajena-mdc-t-mp-clash-over-distribution-of-pfumvudza-inputs/">Wadyajena, MDC-T MP Clash Over Distribution Of Pfumvudza Inputs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/08/16/youths-say-the-country-is-bound-for-a-bumper-harvest-if-pfumvudza-is-implemented-well/">Youths Say The Country Is Bound For A Bumper Harvest If Pfumvudza Is Implemented Well</a></li>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/04/29/zimbabwe-having-an-agricultural-revolution-ed/">Zimbabwe Having An Agricultural Revolution – ED</a></li>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/01/20/mother-of-the-nation-auxillia-mnangagwa-calls-for-3-days-of-prayer-fasting-against-corona/">‘Mother Of The Nation’ Auxillia Mnangagwa Calls For 3 Days Of Prayer &amp; Fasting Against Corona</a></li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>; <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2021/05/23/mnangagwa-claims-credit-for-good-rainy-season/">The Standard</a>

Mnangagwa Takes Credit For Good Rains

Farmers and war veterans have blamed MDC Alliance vice resident Tendai Biti for the imposition of sanctions on businessman Kuda Tagwirei and his company Sakunda Holdings.
This comes after the United States (U.S.) <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/usa-adds-tagwirei-sakunda-holdings-onto-the-sanctions-list/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">added Tagwirei and his company to the sanctions list</a> for engaging in corruption that has worsened the plight of Zimbabweans.
Some farmers say the imposition of sanctions on Tagwirei and Sakunda will affect the Command Agriculture, a government programme meant to boost production since he was the financier of the programme. Gwebi Farmers Association Chair Andy Mhlanga said:
<blockquote>We understand that Biti is working in cahoots with Americans to sabotage agriculture reforms and reverse the land reforms. This time he is reported to have misrepresented facts to his western masters and invited sanctions on Sakunda holdings so that command agriculture is destroyed, this programme has revived the production of maize, wheat, soya beans and various other crops.</blockquote>
Dakarai Mapuranga an agriculture expert called upon President Emmerson Mnangagwa to “flash Biti from chairing such an important portfolio as Public accounts.”
Biti argued that Tagwirei and Sakunda abused over US$3 billion Command Agriculture fund, the reason the country is facing starvation.
Tagwirei denies the allegations and has on a number of occasions been defended by the government for boycotting Public Accounts Committee hearings.
More: <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/command-agriculture-biti-under-fire/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZBC News</a>

Biti Blamed For US Imposition Of Sanctions On Kuda Tagwirei, Sakunda Holdings

Khami Prison Farm has reportedly increased production to provide food for Bulawayo Metropolitan’s 5 prisons, the Chronicle reports. According to the publication, the farm has 252 cattle of which 56 are dairy cows, 93 Boer goats, 102 pigs, 100 rabbits and nine horses, and the prisons utilise 70% of their produce and 30% goes to the market where it is sold to Bulawayo and surrounding communities.
The matter came to light when Farm projects manager, Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Charles Chitumbura spoke to the publication and said:
<blockquote>We have also planted cotton and sorghum under the Presidential Input Scheme. We also do wheat production under Command Agriculture and currently we have put three hectares under winter wheat.
We partnered Voluntary Service Overseas, a Swiss organisation in the project and they funded our water works infrastructure in the form of irrigation equipment.
We are also into the 100-day cycle of the food enhancement programme. It is a Government initiative to reinvigorate performances in the public sector and maximise on production.
On the rehabilitative aspect, we impart good agricultural practices to our inmates so that they successfully reintegrate into the society upon release and reduce unemployment, recidivism and at the same time it will help them to be law abiding citizens.
For instance, if it is mealie-meal, green vegetables and tomatoes we feed the inmates with 200 grams per meal for a single ration. If it is double ration, we give them 300 grammes per inmate and also supply 30 to 40 tonnes of meat to our inmates to meet the protein requirement
We also have challenges which include high production costs, climate change brings new pests and diseases, power outages especially in winter affect our operations, especially in terms of fertilisation during winter production. We also have an issue of inorganic fertilisers and we have therefore adopted an integrated soil fertility management system and this means whatever garbage we get from horticultural or food crops, we feed to our livestock
We also get manure from our livestock and do some compost and integrate the use of organic and inorganic fertilisers. Feed is one of the major cost drivers and we have adopted a least cost combination and we buy stale bread and cereal grain at Delta Beverages at low cost and we then mix it with concentrates and feed the pigs.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/food-secure-khami-prison-steps-up-efforts-to-increase-production/">Chronicle </a>

Khami Prison Farm Upscales Production To Provide Food For Bulawayo's Prisons

The Zimbabwean government has removed import restrictions on maize and wheat flour in an endeavour to address the scarcity of these commodities.
The acute shortage of maize and wheat in the country has seen prices of commodities such as bread and mealie-meal soaring unabated.
The government had imposed the controls as a way to promote local producers and a way to limit the exportation of the scarce foreign currency.
The suspension of the restrictions was announced by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube who said everyone was now allowed to import maize meal and wheat flour duty-free “with effect from May 22, 2020, and for a period of six months to November 21, 2020.”
According to Statutory Instrument 119 of 2020 published on Tuesday, the suspension of duty on flour will cover “wheat flour in bulk, in the packaging of 50kg or more” or “pre-packaged wheat flour… for retail sale less than 50kg.”
The development comes when half of the country’s population is facing starvation following a poor farming season due to the El Nino induced drought and poor agriculture policies.
At the moment, the government is, through the Grain Marketing Board, importing maize which is then sold at subsidised prices to millers.
More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2020/05/26/zimbabwe-scraps-import-controls-on-maize-meal-wheat-flour/">ZimLive</a>

Zimbabwe Removes Import Restrictions On Maize, Wheat Flour

Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has criticised the government’s decision to fund the Winter Wheat farming programme when the country is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.
Biti suggests that the money should have been used to fund the fight against the virus that has so far killed three people in the country. He said:
<blockquote>The regime which has just disbursed $2.7 billion on Command Wheat can’t build decent infrastructure for our people.
It is failing to provide PPE (personal protective equipment) to respondents and has so far failed to buy a single test. The regime must wake up from its slumber, provide stimulus safety nets, test, track, isolate and treat people for coronavirus.</blockquote>
His remarks also come amid reports that the government misused US$3 billion that was meant for Command Agriculture, a programme the government was implementing through energy giants Sakunda Holdings.
The government, however, refutes the claims although there are no tangible results to show on how the alleged money was used.
Analysts say that if the US$3 billion in question was put to good use, the country would have averted the shortage of commodities such as mealie-meal and wheat.
More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/biti-questions-govt-logic-in-sinking-2-7b-on-failed-wheat-farming-instead-of-fighting-covid-19/">New Zimbabwe</a>

Biti Says It's Illogical To Fund Failed "Command Wheat" Farming Instead Of Fight Against Coronavirus

The government of Zimbabwe this Friday launched $2,7 billion agriculture “special” scheme towards the production of wheat.
The development was announced by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga who said that the “special programme” would be funded by the commercial bank, CBZ Bank. Chiwenga said:
<blockquote>The country requires approximately 400 000 metric tonnes of wheat grain annually and it is currently achieving four metric tonnes per hectare which compares well to the other wheat-producing countries.
The major challenge in wheat production is due to a number of challenges and among these are inadequate water for irrigation and electricity supply, high input costs and late disbursement of funds which results in late distribution of inputs to farmers under the special programme on wheat, maize and soya beans.</blockquote>
He added that Cabinet approved continued power supply to irrigations while inputs would be provided to registered farmers using the Grain Marketing Board network of depots.
The development comes when the country is facing an acute shortage of wheat and mealie-meal despite reports saying that it financed Command Agriculture through Sakunda Holdings, to the tune of US$3 billion when Command Agriculture was introduced.
The government admits there has been rampant looting of inputs by farmers and top government officials.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/04/govt-launches-another-27bn-command-agriculture-scheme/">NewsDay</a>

Government Launches $2.7 Billion Command Agriculture Scheme

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Sakunda_Holdings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sakunda Holdings</a> Chief Operating Officer Charles Chitambo on Monday admitted that the company was authorised to manage Government’s agricultural programmes without going to tender.
Chitambo was giving oral evidence before the Tendai Biti led Public Accounts Parliamentary portfolio committee yesterday. He said:
<blockquote>We had a cabinet authority to cover both the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Command_Agriculture_2016" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Command Agriculture</a> and the Presidential scheme.
There was a tri-partite agreement among Finance and Lands ministries and Sakunda Holdings. We submitted documents, statements but I do not know if it was a bidding system. We did not tender.
Government invited us with 40 other companies. Sakunda did not go to the government.
They (government) invited us to rescue the agricultural sector of this country.</blockquote>
While Chitambo argued that the government was a borrower and Sakunda was financer of Command Farming and the Presidential Scheme, the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture have admitted that the company received more than US$3 billion from the government.
Sakunda Holdings is owned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top ally <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kudakwashe_Tagwirei" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kudakwashe Tagwirei</a>, who has over the years allegedly bought cars for top government officials and funded the ruling ZANU PF party’s campaigns.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/sakunda-admits-dodging-tender-to-seal-command-agriculture-deals/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Govt Invited Us To Rescue The Agriculture Sector - Sakunda Holdings COO

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Perrance Shiri has announced that Treasury budgeted $20 million to further finance a heifer scheme under Command Agriculture.
He said the remarks while delivering a lecture on the Progress and Challenges of the Command Agriculture initiative to the Joint Command Staff Course No. 33 at Zimbabwe Staff College.
He observed that the programme which started as a maize input scheme in the 2016-17 cropping season to boost food production following two consecutive seasons of high food imports will this year focus on livestock.
He added that the Command Livestock programme had succeeded in distributing 3 539 heifers to 908 farmers in eight rural provinces.
The development comes when there are still no answers as to what happened to the US$3 billion which the government disbursed for the programme between 2017 and 2018.
Allegations say that businessman Kuda Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings which has strong links to the ruling ZANU PF misused the money.
The remarks are said when the country has a huge shortage of mealie-meal, an issue that has forced the country to import maize from neighbouring African countries including South Africa and Tanzania.
<a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/minister-outlines-gains-of-command-agriculture-unveils-20m-kitty-to-beef-up-heifer-scheme/">More: The Herald</a>

Government Sets Aside $20 Million For Command Agriculture

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has in its document titled ‘IMF Executive Board Concludes 2020 Article IV Consultation with Zimbabwe’ projected a gloomy 2020 for Zimbabwe.
The fund observes that Zimbabwe is currently experiencing an economic and humanitarian crisis exacerbated by policy missteps and climate‑related shocks. IMF said:
<blockquote>The climate shocks have magnified the social impacts of the fiscal retrenchment, leaving more than half of the population food insecure. With another poor harvest expected, growth in 2020 is projected at near zero, with food shortages continuing. </blockquote>
IMF also indicates that in 2018, Zimbabwe focused on macro stabilization and reforms supported by  a Staff Monitored Program from the IMF but “is now off-track as policy implementation has been mixed.”
The fund also observes that notable reforms registered so far include a “significant fiscal consolidation that has helped reduce the monetary financing of the deficit, the introduction of the new domestic currency in February 2019, the creation of an interbank FX market, and the restructuring of the command agriculture financing model to a public-private partnership with commercial banks.”
These projections are a contradiction <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/06/03/the-economy-shall-contract-by-21-this-year-before-rebounding-to-3-3-imf/">to the fund’s last year</a> and Mthuli’s projections. IMF projected that the economy would contract in 2019 before rebounding to 3,3% growth in 2020 while <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/10/31/in-2020-the-economy-is-projected-to-turn-around-mthuli-ncube/">Ncube projected significant growth in 2020.</a>
More: <a href="https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/02/26/pr2072-zimbabwe-imf-executive-board-concludes-2020-article-iv-consultation">IMF</a>

IMF Projects Zimbabwe's 'Growth In 2020 At Near Zero, Food Shortages Continuing'

The president has been sucked into GMAZ and GMB loan saga which unveiled in parly yesterday, Newsday reports. The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture quizzed GMAZ Chair Tafadzwa Musarara about the money <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/02/26/musarara-claims-gmaz-gave-gmb-9-million-gmb-says-they-never-received-any-money-from-gmaz/">Musarara claims GMAZ advanced to GMB which GMB denied ever receiving</a> and Musarara in his response said:
<blockquote>Sometime in late 2016, the then chairman of the Cabinet committee on food security, now President Emmerson Mnangagwa, approached the milling industry, saying <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Command_Agriculture_2016">Command Agriculture</a> was successful and there was a big harvest, but silos needed to be funded, but Treasury did not have the money</blockquote>
After GMB denied they received money from GMAZ, Musarara went on to say the president said Musarara gave the money to refurbish the silos referring to a video in which the president said so while addressing a <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_African_National_Union_-_Patriotic_Front">Zanu PF Rally</a>.
GMB and Treasury have however denied that GMAZ gave GMB money to refurbish the silos.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/02/ed-sucked-into-us9m-gmb-saga/">Newsday </a>

ED Sucked Into The GMAZ - GMB Loan For Silo Refurbishments Saga In Parly

President Mnangagwa while addressing the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Matabeleland_province">Matabeleland</a> Civil Society meeting said Zimbabwe was going into the 3rd year in drought and we only survived the other 2 years because of huge reserves from <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Command_Agriculture_2016">command agriculture</a> which he personally spearheaded, The Sunday Mail Reports.
Said the president:
<blockquote>This is the third year in drought, the effects of this drought affect us directly. When we have a drought, food security in the country is threatened because we have not produced enough to feed ourselves. Fortunately, for the past two seasons we accumulated huge reserves which accumulated at the time I personally introduced Command Agriculture.
But those reserves, with this current drought, have been exhausted and this is why we are now diverting all funds which had been targeted for capital projects to procure grain to feed the people. This then affects the implementation of developmental projects in the country because we need people to survive</blockquote>
Meanwhile,<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/07/21/parliament-angered-by-3-billion-swallowed-by-command-agriculture-between-2017-and-2018/"> command agriculture has been infamous for gobbling 3 Billion dollars without producing tangible results</a>. 8 million people in Zimbabwe are in need of food aid according to the United Nations.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/zimbabwe-secures-maize-from-uganda">The Sunday Mail</a>

We Have Survived The Past 2 Consecutive Droughts Because Of Our Huge Command Agriculture Reserves - ED

The Zimbabwe Anti-graft body, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Anti-Corruption_Commission">ZACC</a>,  has set its sights on companies and individuals who diverted <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Command_Agriculture_2016">Command Agriculture</a> inputs to personal use, The Sunday Mail reports.
According to the publication, there are farmers who used their offer letters to get inputs in some cases for fertiliser and seed for as many as 300 hectares, which they in turn sold to big fertilizer and seed companies. The companies in question, in turn, repacked the inputs and sold them.
ZACC Chair Justice <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Loice_Matanda-Moyo">Matanda-Moyo</a> speaking to The Sunday Mail said:
<blockquote>We are still investigating this matter but so far we have closed some warehouses. We are giving the owners a chance to explain themselves at ZACC offices, failure of which the commission will seize the inputs which were looted from the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Grain_Marketing_Board">Grain Marketing Board</a> (GMB).
ZACC will do a sweep on the farmers and the big companies because we do not tolerate corruption</blockquote>
According to the publication, ZACC found 440 tonnes of fertiliser in one of the raided warehouses and 1 tonne of sugar beans seed
More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/anti-graft-body-swoops-on-command-agric-looters">The Sunday Mail </a>

ZACC Goes After Command Agriculture Looters

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The opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has castigated the opaqueness of the importation of maize grain adding that it is essential to unpack it and also to declare a state of emergency. See the <a href="https://twitter.com/agriculture_MDC/status/1226420990143426561">MDC’s Twitter thread</a> below for more.
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DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY In the Sunday Mail today from the minister of finance. 110 000 tons of Maize ordered for each month. So my maths is this 110 000 tons / 30-ton trucks/ rail wagons 3667 trucks/ 30 days 123 per day MORE THAN 15 trucks for every constituency(210 )
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WHERE FROM we are aware of export bans in Zambia and Malawi, Mozambique undecided yet and RSA say they don’t have enough for themselves. Closest stocks that we have available is South America. Shipping time from payment is 2.5 to 3 months The national stock will run out month-end
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AT WHAT COST GMB sock holdings appear to be top-secret. How can we ask for assistance without revealing our stock holdings 110 000 tons @ $300 per ton = US$ 33 million per month Where is the money coming from We know WFP have about 95 million pledged but asked 300 million.
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WE CALL FOR 1 Declare the disaster to the international community 2 Declare all current stocks including GMB 3 Publish the GMB forensic audit 4 Adit the Command Agriculture program 5 Food foe all needy including the urban 2,2 million 6 Take politics out of distribution.
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LONG TERM POLICIES 1 Announce Pre Planting Producer Prices 2 GMB to be overhauled into a PPP 3 Retire all military in the GMB 4 GMB it operates the PIS and what was Command inputs on a non-partisan basis
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More: <a href="https://twitter.com/agriculture_MDC/status/1226420990143426561">Agriculture And Lands MDC</a>
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Opaqueness On Importation Of Maize Raises Questions With Others Saying US$33 Million Is Needed Monthly

Zimbabwe is in dire need of food aid and authorities are arguing that the famine was an effect of climate change. Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube is on record saying that the government’s plans were put off the rails by acts of God including Cyclone Idai and the El Nino-induced drought.
Ncube argues that if the rains had fallen, Dams which are used for irrigations and power generation would have been filled and contributed to the growth of the economy.
A comment in The Sunday Mail’s Opinion and Analysis section, however, notes that climate change was here to stay hence the need to establish a sustainable solution. Part of the comment reads:
<blockquote>Global warming is certainly here to stay, and blaming El Nina or La Nina or any other weather phenomenon is not going to water our fields. Only well-calculated moves will do that…
Instead, our strategy in the agricultural sector should revolve around the more than 10 000 dams in the country, including Lake Kariba, the world’s biggest dam based on water storage capacity, as well as the recently completed Tugwi-Mukosi Dam.</blockquote>
The comment is made when experts have projected prolonged hunger as they expect rains to be lower than the normal levels this year.
Others have urged the government to adopt smart agriculture and water-harvesting strategies to minimise the effects of climate change.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/climate-change-cannot-control-our-destiny">The Sunday Mail</a>

"Blaming Climate Change Is Not A Strategy," - The Sunday Mail

An unidentified man is seen picking fallen maize grains near a Grain Marketing Board depot in Aspindale, Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.
UK-based law lecturer, Alex Magaisa says that the grains fell off trucks ferrying maize to and from the depot. There is severe starvation in Zimbabwe owing to the El Nino induced drought and Cyclone Idai.
Some analysts also believe that the acute food shortage in the country was man-made arguing that Zimbabwe would be famine-free if the US$3 billion that was meant for Command Agriculture had been put to good use.
<img alt="" class="media-img" data-maxheight="594" data-maxwidth="459" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQP-sQsXUAEfIVP?format=jpg&amp;name=large"/><img alt="" class="media-img" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQP-sPWXUAAioe7?format=jpg&amp;name=large"/><img alt="" class="media-img" data-maxheight="594" data-maxwidth="446" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQP-q62WsAYIkPi?format=jpg&amp;name=large"/><img alt="" class="media-img" data-maxheight="594" data-maxwidth="448" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQP-q-HW4AAbQem?format=jpg&amp;name=large"/><img alt="" class="media-img" data-maxheight="594" data-maxwidth="449" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQP-q-RWABUYHwu?format=jpg&amp;name=large"/>
More: Alex Magaisa

PICTURES, DESPERATE SCENE: Man Picks Fallen Maize Grain Near A GMB Depot

Zimbabwe has an acute shortage of the mealie-meal partly due to the El Nino induced drought and Cyclone Idai. A red flag has since been raised over starvation in the country and the international community has already started donating food.
Sadly, it has been projected that famine will linger to beyond 2020 as the country is expected to receive less than enough rains this rainy season.
Watch the video below.
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WATCH: Elongated Queue As Zimbabweans Become Desperate For Mealie-Meal

The estranged wife of Vice President Chiwenga has made her divorce settlement conditions known after details of her demands found their way into the media.
Marry is reportedly claiming these 6 luxury vehicles from the vice president according to Newsday.
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<ol>
<li>Toyota Lexus,</li>
<li>Mercedes-Benz S400,</li>
<li>Silver Mercedes-Benz E350,</li>
<li>Black Mercedes-Benz E350,</li>
<li>Range Rover Autobiography</li>
<li>Another Mercedes-Benz</li>
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However, the VP through his legal team has responded to Marry’s demands and said they don’t make sense as she has her own fleet which includes:
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<li>A BMW 7-Series,</li>
<li>A red Chevrolet</li>
<li>A Toyota Hilux.</li>
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Furthermore, the VP explained why Marry cant demand the first 6 cars. According to the publication:
<blockquote>The Toyota Lexus belonged to the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Command_Agriculture_2016">Command Agriculture</a> programme, the Mercedes-Benz S400 was purchased from the Defence ministry, the silver Mercedes-Benz E350 was given by<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Sakunda_Holdings"> Sakunda Holdings</a> boss <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kudakwashe_Tagwirei">Kuda Tagwirei</a> as an escort for the children and the black Mercedes-Benz E350 also belonged to the Defence ministry, but was given for Chiwenga’s personal use.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/01/chiwenga-divorce-exposes-flashy-lifestyle/">Newsday </a>

LIST: 6 Luxury Vehicles Marry Is Demanding From Chiwenga

Alex Tawanda Magaisa a law lecturer in the United Kingdom has argued that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga violated the national Constitution of Zimbabwe by accepting car presents from Sakunda Holdings boss, Kuda Tagwirei.
The former advisor to the former the late founding member of the opposition MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai said that the gifts created a conflict of interest. He said:
<blockquote>Section 106(2) of the Constitution prohibits Vice-Presidents from “expos[ing] themselves to any situation involving the risk of a conflict between their official responsibilities and private interests”. In designing this provision, inspiration was drawn from rules that apply to directors of corporations. The law of companies has for years prohibited directors from getting into situations that create conflict between their interests and the interests of the company. The key in this particular case is that a Vice President must not “expose” himself to a situation that involves the “risk” of a conflict of interest. The mere presence of a risk is enough to trigger a breach of the provision.</blockquote>
His reasoning is consistent with that of other analysts who have opined that <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/01/14/tagwireyis-gifts-to-chiwenga-reflect-his-influence-over-zimbabwes-top-politicians/">Tagwirei’s gifts to Chiwenga suggested how much influence the Sakunda boss had over political elites</a> in the country.
Tagwirei has a pending case in which he is accused of having misused <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/07/22/heads-must-roll-forthwith-over-missing-us3-billion-for-command-agriculture/">US$3 billion which was meant for the Command Agriculture programme.</a>
Do you think VP Chiwenga should resign for violating the law?
More: <a href="https://www.bigsr.co.uk/single-post/2020/01/18/Big-Saturday-Read-The-General%E2%80%99s-Misadventure">Alex Magaisa BSR</a>

"VP Chiwenga Violated The Constitution By Accepting Sakunda Boss' Luxurious Gifts," Law Lecturer In The UK

The European Union has said corruption is the leading cause of the food crisis currently gripping Zimbabwe Newsday reports. The food crisis has left over 7.7 million people in need of food aid.
Addressing journalists in <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Harare">Harare</a> EU Ambassador Timo Olkkonen said mismanagement of the agricultural sector was partly to blame for the hunger in the country. Said the diplomat:
<blockquote>Obviously there is this link to the climate change phenomena and the drought that has been induced in southern Africa, but it has been shown also very clearly in the report by the UN rapporteur on the right to food that the situation that makes food insecurity such a grave issue in Zimbabwe is the mismanagement of the agricultural sector in recent years.</blockquote>
Mr Olkkonen’s remarks coincide with reports that <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Command_Agriculture">command agriculture</a> received <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/07/21/parliament-angered-by-3-billion-swallowed-by-command-agriculture-between-2017-and-2018/">3 Billion dollars in 2 years but has very little to nothing to show for it. </a>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/01/corruption-fuels-zim-hunger/">Newsday</a>

Corruption Behind The Hunger In Zimbabwe - EU

Zim Live has said that <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/01/13/vp-chiwenga-got-a-mercedes-benz-for-his-childrens-escort-from-kuda-tagwirei/">the Mercedes Benz which Sakunda Holdings boss, Kuda Tagwireyi bought for Vice President Constantino Chiwenga</a> may reflect how much influence the businessman has on elite politicians in Zimbabwe.
Chiwenga was forced to disclose that he got the gift from Tagwireyi after his estranged wife, Mary Mubaiwa-Chiwenga demanded a share of the former army boss’ properties.
Some ZANU PF bigwigs are on record admitting that Tagwireyi bailed out the ruling party on several occasions hence he must be treated with respect.
This is of great concern as there are possibilities that Sakunda boss might commit crimes and be granted impunity since he is highly connected.
Tagwireyi is already accused of abusing the Command Agriculture fund amounting to US$3 billion and the revelation that Chiwenga was allocated a US$120,000 Lexus LX 570 under the government’s opaque Command Agriculture programme bankrolled by Tagwireyi’s Sakunda Holdings does not help the case.
ZANU PF has been protecting Tagwireyi from being investigated over the Command Agriculture matter and disrupting a Parliamentary investigative process that was meant to establish the merits and demerits of the matter is a case in point.
More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2020/01/14/tagwireyi-lavished-expensive-vehicles-on-chiwenga-vps-lawyers-admit/">Zim Live</a>

"Tagwireyi’s Gifts To Chiwenga Reflect His Influence Over Zimbabwe’s Top Politicians"

Leader of the opposition MDC, Nelson Chamisa has said that Zimbabwe needs to make the best of the rains it is receiving.
He posted on Twitter after rains have fallen in some parts of Zimbabwe following a long dry spell which could have resulted in crops withering had the rains not come sooner. He said:
<blockquote>There is nothing sweeter than rain. We thank God for HIS providence. In our duty as stewards of nature, we need to promote SMART policies: water harvesting, climate change adaptation, drought-resistant agriculture &amp; a commitment to long term sustainable development.</blockquote>
His remarks are a strong redolent of remarks <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/01/01/farmers-call-for-the-adoption-of-smart-agriculture-to-avoid-drought/">by farmers who have been calling for the adoption of smart agriculture to avoid drought and famine.</a>
Zimbabwe is facing yet another severe starvation this year as experts have forecasted that the rains will not be adequate to sustain the farming season.
More: <a href="https://twitter.com/nelsonchamisa/status/1215337232317456386">Nelson Chamisa</a>

CHAMISA: "We Need To Promote SMART Policies To Make The Best Of Rains We Receive"

Zimbabwe is facing severe starvation with the World Food Programme claiming that the Southern African country is facing man-made problems.
The country used to be referred to as the breadbasket of Southern Africa but is now regarded as a basket case that depends on handouts from sympathisers.
Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector is grounded with authorities blaming climate shift whilst critics say the government’s mismanagement of local resources and the “poorly-executed” land reform programme had a huge impact on the sector.
Watch the video below for more.
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More: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Murimimutsva/videos/10157810051203058/">Elijah Mangwengwende</a>

WATCH: Zimbabwe's Food Crisis Discussed

The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it will be expanding its emergency operation in Zimbabwe at a time when projections suggest that the country is to be ridden by in 2020.
This was revealed by WFP officials who said that they intend to have more than doubled the number of people they are currently helping by January to 4.1 million. WFP Executive Director David Beasley said:
<blockquote>We’re deep into a vicious cycle of sky-rocketing malnutrition that’s hitting women and children hardest and will be tough to break.
With poor rains forecast yet again in the run-up to the main harvest in April, the scale of hunger in the country is going to get worse before it gets better.</blockquote>
The organisation is providing life-saving rations of cereal, pulses and vegetable oil and a protective nutrition ration for children under 5 years of age.
Zimbabwe is facing huge starvation due to El Nino induced drought and Cyclone Idai which destroyed crops when they were a few weeks away from harvest.
The situation is further worsened by the socio-economic crisis in the country which is characterised by inflation, electricity shortages, fuel shortages, cash and foreign currency shortages.
<a href="https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/main/world-food-organisation-expands-emergency-operation-in-zimbabwe/?utm_source=ReviveOldPost&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost">More: The Zimbabwe Mail</a>

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