GMB managers resign over mealie-meal scam

FIVE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) workers from Bulawayo who were recently suspended for allegedly diverting subsidised mealie-meal and other Silo Foods Industries products to the black market last week tendered their resignations.

However, the Government has said the resignations were a non-event as investigations were ongoing and if they are found on the wrong side of the law they would be prosecuted. Belmont depot manager, Mr Stanley Chimakira was allegedly working with his sidekicks in the sales department, Mr Buhle Dube and Mr Vincent Gwariro, in channelling the Government subsided roller meal to the black market.

Mr Chimakira was also allegedly working with two others workers, Mr Tashin Kamangira and Ms Samkeliso Nyathi, who are both counter sales clerks. Sources revealed the five tendered their resignations a few days before they were meant to appear before an internal disciplinary hearing.

The alleged underhand dealings within the parastatal were recently unearthed following an internal audit, which was preceded by an investigation into operations at Silo Foods Industries in the city by a roller meal taskforce chaired by Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Raj Modi, who confirmed the suspensions of the five. The taskforce reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).

“Mr Chimakira was meant to appear before a hearing on Friday 6 March while his subordinates were scheduled for last Tuesday. All of them then tendered their resignations a day before their scheduled appearances.

“We suspect that the move was meant to protect other officials within the parastatal because investigations have revealed that this might be a bigger cartel that was not only operating in Bulawayo but countrywide,” said the source.

Although officials at GMB could not readily comment on the matter, chairman of the maize meal taskforce, Cde Modi confirmed that the managers tendered their resignations but said that was a non-event. Cde Modi said the five were misled into believing that resigning would protect them from prosecution.

“We are aware that they tendered their resignations but investigations are going ahead and if they are found to be on the wrong side of the law, we will surely continue with prosecution this time through the courts,” he said.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) spokesperson Mr John Makumure also confirmed that investigations were still going ahead undeterred by the resignations.

“No resignations will deter us from our investigations, our teams are busy handling the matter. If they are found to be in the wrong, they will surely be prosecuted,” said Mr Makamure.

Investigations by the maize taskforce following its surprise visit to the Silo Foods Industries’ factory at the Belmont industrial area indicated that GMB employees were allegedly diverting the subsidised roller meal meant for retailers to the black market.

The taskforce also allegedly discovered an invoice book that was being used by the perpetrators of the scam. It was recently reported that as a follow up to the taskforce’s findings Zacc discovered that some employees were allegedly channelling as much as 10 000 bags of 20kg roller meal to the black market.

Consumers have been battling to access roller meal, which is presently being subsidised by Government. It was further alleged that there was a cartel of retailers and vendors who were hoarding mealie-meal in Victoria Falls and selling it in hard currency to Zambian cross-border vendors on the black market.