Michael Sata, the president of the Southern African nation of Zambia, won office in a stunning result from the national polls. Sata heads the Patriotic Front Party which defeated Rupiah Banda., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Zim millers dispel hunger fears
Sunday, 14 April 2013 00:00
Sunday Mail Reporter
Zimbabwe is not headed for a mealie-meal shortage as the country has enough maize to take it to June while efforts to import grain are already under way, the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe said.
In an interview last week, GMAZ chairperson Mr Tafadzwa Musarara dismissed claims that the country would soon experience a mealie-meal shortage. He emphasised that, apart from the grain that is already in stock, members of his association are in the process of moving an additional 20 000 metric tonnes from South Africa.
Government, on the other hand, will import 150 000 metric tonnes of maize from Zambia following indications that the country might face a food deficit owing to erratic rainfall.
“We do not expect mealie-meal shortage anytime soon since what we have will take us up to June this year,” said Mr Musarara.
“Apart from that we have 20 000 tonnes of maize that are on their way from South Africa.
“The only challenge we have is securing enough locomotives to ferry the maize from the National Railways of Zimbabwe.
“Only private millers are importing from South Africa while the Zambian initiative is for the Government. What we will have through the combined efforts between Government and the millers can take us to the next harvesting period without any hitches.”
Speaking at the inauguration of Mr Johannes Jenami as Chief Chidziva in Banket last weekend, President Mugabe disclosed that Zimbabwe and Zambia struck a deal for the importation of maize after he held discussions on the matter with his Zambian counterpart, President Michael Sata.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces highlighted that the grain would be moved under a government-to-government arrangement, adding that Finance Minister Mr Tendai Biti’s efforts to incorporate private companies into the agreement would only threaten the imports.
“We have been in touch with Zambian President Mr Sata over the issue and Zambia has agreed to export maize to Zimbabwe, but only on a government-to-government basis,” he said.
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