Tobacco for Maize Deal Story False: Made

Source from:  Herald Reporter 05/17/2004

THE Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Cde Joseph Made, yesterday dismissed allegations by a British newspaper that Zimbabwe has entered into a secret deal with a United States company to import maize in exchange for tobacco. He described the newspaper report as false and mischievous. Such assertions, the minister said, were being circulated by people who did not know the correct situation on the ground in Zimbabwe. He reiterated Government's earlier position that the country would have a bumper harvest this season and does not, therefore, need to appeal for food aid from donors. Cde Made's comments came in the wake of a report in the British Observer newspaper alleging that the Government had entered into a secret agreement with a US firm, Sentry Financial International, to exchange tobacco for maize ahead of next year's parliamentary election. "The said company has been doing business in Zimbabwe for donkey years and there is no secrecy about it. It is a figment of one's imagination because the West is opposed to the country's agrarian reform, which is now bearing fruit," said Cde Made. He said Zimbabwe would have a good harvest this year and the situation on the ground bore testimony to that fact. "These people who allege there are secret deals entered into by the Government in exchange for food are the country's enemies who have now realised that the land reform programme is irreversible and has succeeded," Cde Made said. The newspaper alleged that about 70 000 tonnes of grain would arrive in the country this month under an agreement allegedly shrouded in secrecy because of its political sensitivity. "The Government has been able to deliver its promises to the nation and obviously we are going to win the elections. It is too late for our detractors to make such stupid allegations," he said. The Government last week said it would not be asking for international food aid because it predicts a harvest of 2,4 million tonnes of staple maize, much higher than the minimum requirement of 1,8 million tonnes to feed the nation and livestock. It said some aid agencies would, however, continue to provide food assistance in the country but only to vulnerable groups like Aids orphans and elderly people. Western aid agencies and the opposition MDC have been predicting food shortages as part of their campaign to taint the land reform programme. The anticipated good harvest comes after four consecutive years of drought and cyclone-induced flooding. Enditem