Zim millers in Brazil
STAFF WRITER
A delegation of more that 20 members of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) is in Brazil negotiating the procurement of 400 000 metric tonnes of yellow and white maize to avert hunger crisis in Zimbabwe.
The development comes after Cabinet this week announced that about 7.7m people in Zimbabwe are in need of food aid.
Tafadzwa Musarara, the chairman of GMAZ, confirmed the talks in Brazil yesterday saying the millers has swung into action to ensure no Zimbabwean starves.
“GMAZ is in Brazil on a trade mission represented by a delegation of 20 members from the association.
“Our primary business here is to negotiate and conclude supplies of white and yellow maize with deliveries starting at the end of July 2024 up to August 2025.
Brazil is one of our traditional key suppliers of the grain in times of drought. It played a critical role in the 1992 drought season,” Musarara said.
He added: “We are now rekindling that supply line and we anticipate that the country will be getting 40 000 tonnes and 50 000 tonnes of every month upto August of next year.”
Millers are aiming to procure and secure circa 400,000 metric tonnes and this maize will complement their current supplies from local farmers and ongoing imports from South Africa.
Musarara said various entry points into the country will be used.
“Beira port will dock maize shipments for the Eastern and Northern parts of the country. Maputo will dock shipments into the Southern region of the country.”
