Presidential Input Scheme Seeds Stolen in Tsholotsho
Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe — January 18, 2025
A truckload of Presidential Input Scheme supplies destined for Ward Seven in Tsholotsho district has vanished without a trace, along with its accompanying personnel and crucial agricultural inputs. Nearly two weeks after its disappearance, authorities are yet to locate the truck, valued stock, or the individuals responsible for its delivery.
The vehicle, which went missing on January 4, was carrying:
• 400 bags of 50kg Urea fertilizer
• 30 bags of 10kg sunflower seeds
• 100 bottles of 200ml Imidacloprid chemicals
The truck was last seen leaving the Tsholotsho Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depot under the supervision of extension officer Ms. Kwanele Dube, GMB contract employee Mr. Langton Ncube, and police officer Abisinjo Mpofu. None of the three have been seen or heard from since.
Dispatch Irregularities
Investigations revealed a troubling detail: the stock was not signed off in the provisional dispatcher book at the GMB depot because the book was reportedly full. This gap in protocol has raised questions about procedural compliance and the potential for internal collusion.
Matabeleland North Acting Director of Local Government Services, Mr. Tapiwa Zivovoi, confirmed the lack of progress in the case. “We have not been informed of any arrests nor recovery of the truck and its inputs,” he said, calling for urgent action to address the situation.
CID Steps In
The mysterious disappearance is now under the scrutiny of detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Sources close to the investigation describe the case as “highly sensitive,” given the implications for the Presidential Input Scheme, which is a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s efforts to bolster agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
Concerns Over Accountability
This incident has sparked outrage and concern among local farmers in Ward Seven, who rely on these inputs to sustain their livelihoods. “This is devastating. We were counting on this support to start the planting season,” said one farmer.
The disappearance also raises broader concerns about accountability and the security of public resources. Calls are growing for a thorough overhaul of procedures surrounding the distribution and monitoring of government input programs.
The Presidential Input Scheme, championed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is a flagship initiative designed to provide smallholder farmers with seeds and fertilizers to enhance food security. This theft represents a significant blow to the program’s objectives.
Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward as investigations continue. For now, the fate of the missing truck and its contents remains shrouded in mystery.
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