of maize from Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania to prevent extensive food shortages expected in the country following a meagre harvest, Grain Marketing Board Chief executive Samuel Muvuti said
“We are in negotiations with countries in the region to import around 300, 000 tons of maize to ensure that maize is available through out the country,” said Muvuti adding “We have already started receiving part of the 400 000 tons sourced from Malawi and we are happy with the progress so far. As GMB we are fully geared to avoid maize shortages.”
10.8.2007
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Govt shops around for maize (10-08-07)
By Nokhuthula Kumalo
The Zimbabwean government will import more than 300 000 tons
Muvuti said the imports would supplement stocks from local harvests and dismissed speculation that the country had only a few weeks’ supply of maize left.
“Despite the prolonged drought we have still managed to harvest to produce the bulk of our requirements and no one has died of hunger in the seven years we have had drought,” he said.
The UN World Food Programme last week launched an appeal for $118-million in expanded food aid for Zimbabwe .
It pledged to help 3,3 million of its citizens who it said were already starting to run out of food.
In March, Zimbabwe , declared the 2006/2007 farming season a year of drought year. The country was once known as the bread basket of the region.
President Robert Mugabe blames the perennial shortfall on drought and sanctions imposed on him and his ruling party elite. The sanctions followed the country’s last presidential polls, which the opposition parties and western observers say were rigged.
But critics say the shortages are a direct result of controversial land reforms. The government seized at least 4,000 farms from white commercial farmers for reallocation to landless blacks, who often lacked the means and skills to farm.
Zimbabwe is in the throes of a chronic economic crisis with the world’s highest rate of inflation and four in every five people jobless.
About 80 percent of the population live below the poverty threshold.
Post published in: News “Despite the prolonged drought we have still managed to harvest to produce the bulk of our requirements and no one has died of hunger in the seven years we have had drought,” he said.
The UN World Food Programme last week launched an appeal for $118-million in expanded food aid for Zimbabwe .
It pledged to help 3,3 million of its citizens who it said were already starting to run out of food.
In March, Zimbabwe , declared the 2006/2007 farming season a year of drought year. The country was once known as the bread basket of the region.
President Robert Mugabe blames the perennial shortfall on drought and sanctions imposed on him and his ruling party elite. The sanctions followed the country’s last presidential polls, which the opposition parties and western observers say were rigged.
But critics say the shortages are a direct result of controversial land reforms. The government seized at least 4,000 farms from white commercial farmers for reallocation to landless blacks, who often lacked the means and skills to farm.
Zimbabwe is in the throes of a chronic economic crisis with the world’s highest rate of inflation and four in every five people jobless.
About 80 percent of the population live below the poverty threshold.