Food distribution, imports ramped up

EACH of the country’s 1 620 rural wards is set to get five tonnes of grain from the Government, while an assessment to evaluate people in need of food assistance is set to end in eight days.

The authorities are presently providing food aid to 2,7 million people who are considered food-insecure.

This comes as private players were ramping up grain imports after the Government smoothened the process.

An undertaking has since been made to clear queues at the border within three hours.

Currently, there are about 190 000 tonnes of cereals in the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR).

On Tuesday, President Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster after the El Niño-induced drought.

The declaration primes various arms of Government to ramp up food assistance and social protection measures.

Responding to questions from legislators during the question-and-answer session in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo said: “We had a limited target of 2,7 million people whom we were feeding.

“The President has just declared a state of disaster. This means there is a deepened need for us to look at an expanded delivery of food to food-insecure people in the country. We are going to take a rapid assessment between now and the 15th of April, which the President has also sanctioned that it ought to be done.

“With this rapid assessment, we are going to expand the food distribution from that date of the 15th of April to September this year.”

The President, he said, has since directed that each ward receives five tonnes of maize.

“These five tonnes have nothing to do with what we will have assessed. We will position five tonnes in each of the 1 620 rural wards. We will position those at chieftainship levels so that for those we might miss or those who are under pressure . . . they can approach their chief,” added Minister Moyo.

In September, he said, the Government will start linking food distribution to preparations for the 2024/2025 summer cropping season.

This enjoins “all able-bodied people who are desirous to continue to receive food assistance” to engage in the “Pfumvudza/ Intwasa programme”.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the authorities are on top of the situation. “Currently, our Strategic Grain Reserves

are holding 189 568 tonnes of cereals. On top of that, 138 905 tonnes of wheat will be allocated . . . This will give us a total of 365 000 tonnes of cereals in our reserves. With such quantities of cereals, no Zimbabwean will die of hunger,” added Prof Jiri.

Private players are also being encouraged to speed up the importation of grain.

“The Government has put in place measures that will see players importing grain with less hurdles at the borders. The measures include clearing queues at the borders within three hours and inspections by regulatory bodies will be done impromptu, that is, at the borders.

“Away from the border, at the points of applications, import permits will be released within three days.”

In full swing

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe chairperson Dr Tafadzwa Musarara told The Sunday Mail that importation of grain from Brazil, Argentina and the United States is in full swing.

“We are embarking on a massive importation programme from multiple source countries,” said Dr Musarara.

“We are aiming to bring 1,1 million tonnes between now and July 31, 2025. Funds are in place . . .

“We are importing from Brazil, Argentina and the USA for now.

“Currently, we have running contracts with various South African suppliers of 65 000 tonnes monthly. We will be in Brazil this month to conclude more supply contracts.

“The Government of Zimbabwe has made the whole importation system smooth and quick, and we are most indebted.”