Govt To Compensate Farmers Whose Produce Was Burnt In Mutare

The government will compensate 300 farmers from Manicaland Province whose produce was confiscated and destroyed by Mutare city’s health department at the Sakubva vegetable market last week.

This was revealed by Manicaland COVID-19 Taskforce chairperson Ellen Gwaradzimba, who said all the affected farmers would receive part of the $600 million being extended to small businesses, vendors and the elderly. Said Gwaradzimba:

The incident that happened at Sakubva market was unfortunate, especially given that we had come up with modalities on how people could continue to trade, but in an organised fashion under the watch of our forces to ensure adherence to issues of hygiene and social distancing.

The fact that they all ran means they were aware that they were violating the conditions of the lockdown.

About 3 tonnes of vegetables were destroyed when farmers sneaked into the market at night in violation of lockdown restrictions.

Following the government’s decision to compensate the affected farmers, only 14 have come forward and submitted their names.

More: The Herald