Zim, Zambia finalise grain deal

President Mugabe welcomes Zambian Vice President Guy Scott at State House in Harare yesterday

Lovemore Chikova and Tendai Mugabe
PRESIDENT Mugabe met Zambian Vice President Mr Guy Scott at State House in Harare yesterday to finalise the government-to-government agreement for Zimbabwe to import 150 000 tonnes of maize from

that country. The discussion at the highest level shows the President’s commitment to ensure that no Zimbabwean starves after the drought that hit some parts of the country.

The deal would be sealed between the two governments, despite spirited efforts by the likes of Finance Minister Tendai Biti to have maize from Zambia imported by private companies.

Minister Biti’s route would have affected the poor as they would not afford to buy the grain from firms that would sell it at exorbitant prices.
Observers said the strategy by Minister Biti was to make people starve so that MDC-T could use hunger as a campaign tool in harmonised elections expected before June 29.

Speaking to journalists after the hour-long meeting, Mr Scott said Zambia was expected to start delivering the maize soon.
“It should start next week if everything goes according to our best expectations. We discussed issues revolving around maize to ensure none of us lose any people. None of us should have a shortfall of maize this year.

“Basically, we know what we are doing and what we are trying to achieve.” 
Although Mr Scott did not disclose the value of the consignment, The Herald is reliably informed that Zimbabwe had already made a down payment in the region of US$3 million.

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Mr Scott was accompanied by Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Efron Lungu and Agriculture Minister Mr Robert Sichinga.
After meeting President Mugabe, Mr Scott flew back to Zambia and was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Vice President Joice Mujuru and Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made.

Minister Made said in an interview after the meeting that the 150 000 tonnes of maize would see the country having enough grain when added to the harvests taking place in areas that were not affected by drought.

He said Zimbabweans should be greatful to Zambia for prioritising the country in the light of a high demand of maize by other countries in the sub-region.

“That matter has now been resolved at the highest level,” said Minister Made. “The ministers of agriculture from both countries met and the Vice Presidents met and Ministers of Foreign Affairs were present.

“The public is being assured that the maize imports are being done at the highest level.”
Minister Made said logistics were already in place to move the grain from Zambia with the cooperation of the northern neighbours.
“The movement of the maize from Zambia requires meticuluous work,” he said. “We will be concentrating on the logistics so that we get the maize timeously.

“We will be under pressure to move the grain before the early showers that usually fall in August or September so that the grain is not affected by rains.”

Minister Made said the grain would be moved to “strictly priority areas” which did not harvest anything due to drought this season.
The areas include Matabeleland South, Masvingo, southern parts of Manicaland, southern parts of Midlands and some parts of Matabeleland North.

“These are areas where there is nothing at the moment because of the drought,” said Minister Made. “People in the northern parts of the country are at least begining to harvest.”

President Mugabe recently castigated Minister Biti and MDC-T’s stance against the importation of the maize from Zambia.
He said Minister Biti sought to sidestep conditions set out by Zambia that the maize would only be sold to Government, not private companies.