Millers seek Government intervention on bread shortage

THE prevailing bread shortage is a result of delays in the transportation of 30 000 tonnes of wheat by rail from Beira in Mozambique, millers said yesterday.

The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has sought Government intervention and engaged the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) to facilitate speedy delivery of the consignment so as to stabilise flour supplies to bread producers.

GMAZ sourced 30 000 tonnes of wheat last month after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) made a US$5 million down payment to the suppliers. The wheat was supposed to be transported into the country by NRZ.

In a letter, a copy seen by Business Chronicle addressed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joel Biggie Matiza, GMAZ has requested Government to intervene in the delay of the movement of wheat and urged NRZ to increase its wagons for swifter transportation so as to ease market pressures.

“The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, the apex representative body of the grain milling industry procured 30 000 metric tonnes of imported wheat to ameliorate the current bread shortages. In order to immediately commence to stabilise the bread supply, we requested and NRZ committed to bring in at least 50 wagons a day into Harare,” said GMAZ.

“Regrettably only 58 wagons have arrived in Harare since 16 September 2018. We understand that currently 179 wagons are laden with the imported wheat and stuck in Beira whilst the bread supply here remains critical.

“We are humbly requesting your esteemed office to intervene and cause NRZ to, in the interests of national food security, deliver 50 wagons a day without fail.”

Responding, NRZ public relations manager, Mr Nyasha Maravanyika, confirmed knowledge of the matter but said the interchange position of NRZ was from Machipanda to Zimbabwe and not from Beira.

“There are a lot of things at play in terms of the reported delay. NRZ is responsible for the Machipanda to Zimbabwe corridor and not Beira to Machipanda,” he said.

“NRZ only does pick ups at Machipanda and currently Machipanda is clear and we are waiting for 34 wagons en route from Beira.”

Mr Maravanyika also confirmed that there were 179 wagons at Beira waiting for traffic to clear up but noted that the prevailing hot and humid weather on the corridor was making it tricky to push much as wheat exposure to a lot of moisture could result in losses.

Zimbabweans have recently experienced bread shortage linked to limited wheat flour supply. So far this week most retail shops in urban areas did not have bread. Although wheat harvesting has started, Zimbabwe still relies on imports due to constrained domestic production. Wheat is one of the major imports into the country. — @queentauruszw.