Conrad Mwanawashe Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE millers through their apex representative body, the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe, will tomorrow hold high level talks with senior officials from Mozambique’s national rail company, Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique to iron out logistics for the movement of grain into the country. The milling industry expects to move at least 120,000 tonnes per month through Mozambique.
The meeting comes at a time when the millers are working on logistics to urgently import maize from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and South Africa in order to assist the government alleviate food shortages caused by the drought that the country is going through.
GMAZ chairman Tafadzwa Musarara said the delegation from CFM, to be led by the rail company’s commercial director, will comprise several senior executives from Maputo and Beira.
“The Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe will receive a high level delegation from Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM), Mozambique’s national rail company, which will be coming to discuss and negotiate the transportation by rail of imported maize from its shores into the hinterland of Zimbabwe,” said Musarara.
Musarara said in light of the prevalent drought, the meeting is part of the ongoing preparations by GMAZ to co-ordinate all requisite logistic companies which include the ports, rail and road transport.
“The two parties are expected to conclude and agree to implement a structured logistics plan that will see expedited movement of imported maize from the ports of Beira and Maputo via Machipanda and Chicualacula into Zimbabwe with substantial quantities sufficient to meet the national requirements,” he said.
The Mutare border post is expected to bring in maize imports destined mainly for the eastern and northern regions of the country. Sango border post is aimed at providing entry of maize wagons from Maputo port into the southern region of the country. Low yields have forced Zimbabwe to import grain from private players worldwide to alleviate hunger.