Agric ministry warns of fraudsters

Audrey Galawu

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has dismissed social media adverts calling for funding.

“Our Facebook page is Lands Agriculture Zimbabwe. Members of the public are warned to be cautious of losing their hard-earned cash to fraudsters.

“The Ministry, International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Smallholder Cluster Programme will not be held liable for any losses and inconveniencies incurred by members of the public who respond to this fake advertisement.

“SACP has not reached a stage where it calls for expressions of interest from targeted beneficiaries who include agriculture producer groups, small business enterprises and value chain lead enterprises,” reads the statement.

The programme is currently carrying out sensitisation of communities in Mashonaland East, West, Central, Matabeleland North and the Midlands provinces.

Targeted districts include Rushinga, Muzarabani, Mt Darwin, Shamva (Mashonaland Central), Goromonzi, Murehwa, Mutoko, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (Mashonaland East), Chegutu, Mhondoro-Ngezi, Sanyati (Mashonaland West).

In Matabeleland North, districts that will benefit from the intervention are Hwange, Binga, Lupane and Nkayi while in the Midlands, the project will cover Kwekwe and Chirumanzu.

The programme is being carried out in conjunction with local development structures coordinated through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works at provincial and district level.