GMB Owes Farmers US$39m

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has paid ZWL$ 157 billion and US$27.2 million to farmers to date. This is for both summer crop intake and winter wheat deliveries.
In a statement released yesterday, GMB Chief Executive Officer Edson Badarai said the parastatal owes farmers ZWL$12.3 billion and US$39 million.
“The Grain Marketing Board wishes to advise our valued farmers and stakeholders that payments for farmers have been significantly made.
“GMB assure of its commitment to continue playing a key role in the agriculture transformation agenda. GMB is notorious for failing to pay its farmers on time and this affects farming operations throughout the country,” read the statement.
The Treasury is accelerating the mobilization of financial resources to clear outstanding balances of ZWL12.3 billion and USD39 million.
Honorable Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka said, “GMB sincerely apologizes for delayed payments to our committed farmers who continue to contribute to His Excellency, President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s vision on agriculture transformation, food sufficiency, and food security”.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) have disconnected some farmers for not paying for electricity and water consumed, a report indicated.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Shadreck Makombe blamed delayed payments to GMB for farmers’ failure to pay ZESA and ZINWA on time.