GMAZ targets 1 million grain imports

THE Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has said it anticipates importing one million tonnes of grain between now and March 2025 to prevent drought-induced hunger.

GMAZ chairperson, Tafadzwa Musarara, said this yesterday while appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture.

“Currently we have excess stock of maize,” Musarara claimed.

“We are also finalising on the local grain procurement since government has given us authority to buy grain directly from farmers.”

Grain Marketing Board (GMB) officials recently said the country was left with four months grain supply highlighting the dire food situation during the El Nino-induced drought.

Government, which has been accused of doctoring figures, said there were enough food stocks.

In the past, the government has been exposed for lying about the food situation in the country.

Food monitoring agencies recently warned that at least 4,4 million Zimbabweans are food insecure with crops wilting due to the prolonged dry spell.

Zambia recently suspended maize exports as the neighbouring country has not been spared the harsh effects of the drought.

Musarara said they intended to import more grain from South America — Mexico and Brazil — if South Africa suspends exports.

“To date we have secured 600 000 tonnes which is in terms of the contract of the 1,1 million tonnes which will be our aim to cover between livestock and human consumption,” he said.

“We anticipate that there will be demand especially on the rural market.

“The country will be stocked with different brands of mealiemeal until next year."

On Monday, the committee conducted visits to GMB depots in Mashonaland West province where it discovered that the amount of grain left in reserve is insufficient to feed Zimbabweans.