Transporters divert fertiliser to black market

Zim Now Writer

Haulage truck drivers from companies that were hired to transport huge loads of unpacked fertiliser by government from Beira are channelling the commodity to the black market.

Truck drivers, local dealers and law enforcement agents, revealed that some drivers transporting imported unpacked fertiliser in containers side-track from their routes to offload part of the load in Mutare and Rusape on their way to Harare or Bindura.

The fertiliser is then sold in 20-litre buckets, packed in the usual yellow, green and white 50kg.

The black market dealers buy Calcium Nitrate at US$20 for three buckets or 60kg, while Ammonium Nitrate goes for US$30 for the same quantity.

On the black market, Calcium Nitrate sells at US$25 per 50kg, while AN sells at US$30 per 50kg, which is way cheaper than the formal market where the same quantity of fertiliser costs US$50.

A truck driver recently said that an excess of two tonnes which is loaded to cater for transportation losses is the one drivers divert to the black market.

Recently, Blessing Matanhiko of Budiriro 2, Harare and Mutafi Kumar, 43, of Malbereign, Harare, who are truck drivers, were arrested by administrators from the Southern Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Organisation and the Zimbabwe Republic Police Criminal Investigation Department for diverting imported fertiliser to the black market in Rusape.

The two were working for the International Freight Services, which had been hired by FSG to transport fertiliser from Beira, Mozambique to Bindura.

SARACO director, Paddington Kadzangura said the drivers would collect 30 tonnes of unpacked fertiliser in Mozambique but on their way, they would offload two tonnes from each truck near Rusape Dam before proceeding to offload the remainder in Bindura.

“We got a tip-off on the goings-on in the transportation of fertiliser from Mozambique to Bindura and did our own investigations before engaging our CID counterparts in Rusape.

“The two arrested drivers connived to steal four tonnes of fertiliser, which they were supposed to deliver to FSG in Bindura. Two tonnes of fertiliser were offloaded in Rusape from each truck. Each truck was carrying 30 tonnes, but only 28 tonnes were delivered. They never reported the matter to their employer.

“Their employer was only informed by the client (FSG) that there was a shortfall and investigations commenced, leading to the arrest of the two by SARACO and CID details at the company premises,” said Mr Kadzangura.

Ngoni Kandeya, FSG logistic manager said their company is one of the companies instructed to supply top dressing fertilisers to government programmes like Pfumvudza and Command Agriculture.

He, however, said losses in transportation are very rare, adding that the system is watertight.

“The two modes complement each other and give price competitive advantages when used simultaneously. Regarding loss in transit, the system is watertight as each transporter is required to have a comprehensive insurance cover for whatever is entrusted to their trucks. Where negligence is proven for transit pilferage, the full recovery bill is debited to the trucker’s account, and we deliver what we are mandated in full.

“Losses in transit are very rare because we always hold transporters accountable as explained above. Regarding documents for losses in transit by drivers, this is privileged information that can only be relayed to transporters in question when they are required to make good the loss,” said Kandeya.