Zim Imports Maize From Zambia

Following the severe drought that has gripped parts of Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, as of late, it is being reported that Zimbabwe has now started to import maize from neighbouring Zambia.

The country is facing serious food shortages and the drought has seriously damaged crops, resulting in the government having to import maize to feed the country.

According to various reports, Zimbabwe has received upwards of 1800 tonnes of maize from Zambia to date.

Joseph Made, Minister of Agriculture, Mechanism and Irrigation Development, said that the country was expecting to import a further 1300 tonnes of maize from Zambia.

It is estimated that the country needs at least 700 000 tonnes of maize to avert the food shortage crisis.

However, there has been a little spanner thrown in the works when the Zambian Grain Traders Association said that they could only export 40 000 tonnes of grain to Zimbabwe per month due to logistical problems:

“…We are only able to export 40 000 tons of grain to Zimbabwe per month due to logistical problems. The process becomes long, but if the borders could operate for 24 hours we could push more volumes,” the association said.