Zim goes shopping for maize

JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwe is negotiating with several southern African countries to import more maize, Harare’s Herald newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Its website quoted Grain Marketing Board acting chief executive Samuel Muvuti as saying the talks for more import contracts were at an advanced stage. He said Zimbabwe had contracts to buy maize from Malawi, but had not been receiving any over the past few weeks due to logistical problems in Malawi.”We…are also targeting other countries within the region, especially those that are closer to us for a smooth delivery.”Muvuti said Zimbabwe was partly relying on maize imported early this year, but added that this did not mean the country had no locally produced maize.”When the country is empty we need about 1,8 million tons to feed the country for a year.We are not empty,” he said.”We have not yet received all the grain quantities which the Agriculture Research and Extension Services officers projected the country will harvest.”Muvuti dismissed reports that maize in storage was only enough to supply the country for two weeks.The current mealie meal shortage was being caused by other factors, which included the pricing of the product.”Millers indicated they were paying more for packaging alone than what was expected for them to charge for the whole packaged product,” Muvuti said.Nampa-SapaHe said Zimbabwe had contracts to buy maize from Malawi, but had not been receiving any over the past few weeks due to logistical problems in Malawi.”We…are also targeting other countries within the region, especially those that are closer to us for a smooth delivery.”Muvuti said Zimbabwe was partly relying on maize imported early this year, but added that this did not mean the country had no locally produced maize.”When the country is empty we need about 1,8 million tons to feed the country for a year.We are not empty,” he said.”We have not yet received all the grain quantities which the Agriculture Research and Extension Services officers projected the country will harvest.”Muvuti dismissed reports that maize in storage was only enough to supply the country for two weeks.The current mealie meal shortage was being caused by other factors, which included the pricing of the product.”Millers indicated they were paying more for packaging alone than what was expected for them to charge for the whole packaged product,” Muvuti said.Nampa-Sapa