MASVINGO - More than 180 tonnes of fertiliser has been found in a warehouse believed to belong to the Masvingo governor, Titus Maluleke.Local police say they are questioning senior Zanu (PF) officials and the governor over suspicions that the fertiliser, meant for poor farmers, was stolen from the Grain Marketing Board.
We recovered about 180 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser from a private warehouse in town and our investigations have pointed out that the governor had a hand in a deal, said a police source.
We have since impounded the consignment but no-one has been arrested yet. We are casting our net wide since we have information that senior Zanu (PF) officials are allegedly looting inputs from the GMB.
Maluleke countered the allegations, saying he had receipts to prove he had bought the fertiliser from the GMB.
The government has set up a scheme in which the Grain Marketing Board is supposed to distribute fertiliser to needy farmers at a reduced price. But a shortage has led to high prices and tempted some with political power to grab the resource for themselves, or direct it only to those with Zanu (PF) loyalties.
Back in 2006, a similar scandal broke when former governor Willard Chiwewe was implicated. He was not prosecuted, but was ordered to pay a fine after admitting guilt.
Last year, a number of MPs were prosecuted for abusing the distribution scheme. They included MDC as well as Zanu (PF) MPs. Most were acquitted, but MDC legislator Ernest Mudavanhu (Zaka North) was found guilty.
Tachiona Mharadze (Masvingo West) and Evelyn Masaiti, the Deputy Minister of Womens Affairs, are currently on trial.
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