Speaking of the Command Agriculture project, I hear $500 million were allocated to plant maize on 400 000 hectares (ha) of land. Of the 400 000 ha, we hear that 191 000 ha of that initial target were tilled. Simple mathematics tell us that we ended up tilling 48 % of said targeted acreage. Having tilled less than 50 % of the targeted land, it is said that maize was planted on 153 000 ha. Well, it means that we have planted on 38 % of the original 400 000 ha. Go to any school, from Grade 1 to any university, anyone who gets 38 marks out of 100 is deemed a failure. To plant on 38 % of the targeted land ought not to be a cause for celebration but a source of great embarrassment. Celebrating mediocrity cannot be good for our nation, folks.
Much more concerning than this celebrated mediocre performance is the foul smell of potential thievery or gross misappropriation of a sizeable chunk of the money meant to fund the venture.
(1) If we ended up planting on 38 % of the 400 000 ha, did we spend all of the $0.5B on the 153 000 ha rather than the original 400 000 ha?
(2) Proportionally, we ought to have spent 38 % of the allocated monies.
(3) That translates to $191M.
(4) Out of the $500M, we will have to account for how the $309M in this single scheme was used.
(5) If the $309M were consumed in the planted 38 % of the targeted acreage, it points to a scheme that was terribly mismanaged.
Such an inefficient way of managing scarce resources is not acceptable. On the other hand, some may end up suspecting or even concluding that the $309M were simply embezzled. Again, this is not only unacceptable, but deeply disturbing. What we face here is quite simple; there is a pressing need to make sure that this kind of bleeding of money is completely eliminated. We cannot afford such a hemorrhaging of money without collapsing the country into a grave from which it cannot be resurrected.
Before we get carried away with this idea of state-managed economic projects, we had better make sure that we have a good explanation of what really happened with the Command Agriculture project. I say this because the whispered-about commanded economic agenda will involve billions of dollars. When we face the real and present danger of losing 62 % of the money through mismanagement and possible grand larceny, it is critical that we make sure that the monies are strictly monitored. Furthermore, there ought to be a mechanism to quickly and effectively deal with any fatal inefficiencies or treasonous embezzlement, doing so in a very swift and absolutely ruthless manner.
Followup discussions:
Jones Musara Some notable facts on the Ngwena led bumperous and bountiful Command Agriculture program:
400 00 hectares of land were put under maize farming to produce at least 2 million tonnes of maize. US$500 million was spent on the project.
This has been unprecedented sucess and as expected G40s are not happy that a Ngwena led project has been so successful and also that hunger which they use to exploit the masses is now under serious threat.
Chavo kutaura chete, all their projects are barren.
Viva Ngwena the man of mega production. Down with barren G40!!
400 00 hectares of land were put under maize farming to produce at least 2 million tonnes of maize. US$500 million was spent on the project.
This has been unprecedented sucess and as expected G40s are not happy that a Ngwena led project has been so successful and also that hunger which they use to exploit the masses is now under serious threat.
Chavo kutaura chete, all their projects are barren.
Viva Ngwena the man of mega production. Down with barren G40!!
Shumba Jones is telling us that "400 000 hectares of land were put under maize farming to produce at least 2 million tonnes of maize. US$500 million was spent on the project." He has been calling this a bumperous harvest, whatever that means.
Well, we had my good friend, Sekuru Hungwe jumping in to help our innumerate compadre, that being Shumba Jones, with basic mathematics. Sekuru Hungwe points out the following: "We take $500 million and divide by 2 million tonnes and we get $250 per tonne which works out at $4 per kg straight from farm! Add transport, milling, packaging and profit the imagine how much 10 kg of mealie-meal would cost then you either faint from hunger or just import your mealie-meal!"
Taking the costs that are not yet accounted for, we may end up paying around $20 per kg for that "bumperous harvest." We might as well pay for our imported hupfu for it will be cheaper,as pointed out by Sekuru Hungwe. Never trust innumerate people.
Well, we had my good friend, Sekuru Hungwe jumping in to help our innumerate compadre, that being Shumba Jones, with basic mathematics. Sekuru Hungwe points out the following: "We take $500 million and divide by 2 million tonnes and we get $250 per tonne which works out at $4 per kg straight from farm! Add transport, milling, packaging and profit the imagine how much 10 kg of mealie-meal would cost then you either faint from hunger or just import your mealie-meal!"
Taking the costs that are not yet accounted for, we may end up paying around $20 per kg for that "bumperous harvest." We might as well pay for our imported hupfu for it will be cheaper,as pointed out by Sekuru Hungwe. Never trust innumerate people.
https://www.facebook.com/bvumavaranda.technocrat/posts/734168793419766?hc_location=ufi
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