HARARE - At least 12,000 tractors bought by government to help new farmers and boost agricultural production have vanished, the Senate has been told. The deputy minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Senator, Tichaona Mudzingwa (MDC-T), called for a full probe into the matter.
Mudzingwa lifted the lid on the sordid affair during a belated debate on the President’s speech to last years opening of Parliament. He said government bought 15 000 tractors that should have been enough for 6 000 new and resettled farmers.
“I want to bring to light that government bought over 15 000 tractors, but only some 3 000 farmers have benefited,” Mudzingwa said. “If we put 6 000 farmers and 15 000 tractors, each farmer should have got three tractors. Most of these farmers are using hoes, what we used to call kurima nechibhakera. It is a great concern to me. Where did the 15 000 tractors go?”
Senate President Edna Madzongwe deferred debate on the matter. Central Bank chief Gideon Gono launched the so-called farm mechanization programme that saw thousands of mainly Zanu (PF) supporters, including service chiefs, receiving inputs such as tractors, combine harvesters, generators, scotch-carts, motorbikes and ploughs for free.
Gono himself last year said it was high time the beneficiaries of the implements paid back.
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