STAFF WRITER
KENMOUR business center based artist, Jikijela Tjibale Gumbo, is appealing to government to allow artists from in and around Lupane to be allowed to be paid in grain, The Zambezi Times reports.
This comes after Gumbo and many of his fellow artists are finding it difficult to transport grain from one point to another as police and other responsible authorities are on guard against anyone who carries grain beyond what is stipulated by the government.
In Zimbabwe it is the sole responsibility of the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to transport grain and individuals are limited to carry not more than five bags of grain.
According to the Grain Marketing (Control of Sale of Maize) Regulations, 2019 (3), a producer of maize or farmer is permitted to transport not more than five bags of maize of a capacity not exceeding 50 kilogrammes per bag from one area of the country to the other without any authorised person or police officer having to confiscate the maize.
Section (4) further states that, a producer of maize is permitted to transport maize in excess of that specified under subsection (3) in the following cases—
(a) Where such maize is being transported to be sold to the Grain Marketing Board;
(b) Where an authorised person has permitted such maize to be transported for any other specified purpose, which authority must be evidenced in writing to any police officer on demand.
In an interview, Gumbo, one of the seasoned traditional artists in Kenmour who has taken it upon himself to keep the fire burning on the seemingly unpopular traditional music, is optimistic the government can solve their plight.
“Our fans in the rural areas are not formally employed hence no cash so grain is the available mode of payment and it has worked so well in the past,” he said.
Gumbo believes that GMB authorities should be considerate on the peculiar situation.
“We want clearance in the form of a letter from GMB authorities allowing us to ask our fans to pay with grain to enter our festivals shows and permission to move grain for sale to GMB.
“This year the authorities are so strict with the trading and movement of all grain a number of grain traders and farmers have had their grain confiscated and charged by police for unauthorised movement and trading,” Gumbo said.
He added: “Government should waiver us to be allowed to transport small grain because our supporters pay us using grains for example a quarter of a bucket is ten rand so if we have shown we can get about close of 30 tonnes as such National Arts Council should advise government on our plight in this part of the country,’’ said Gumbo.
