Conrad Mwanawashe Business Reporter
A PRIVATE sector initiative to import 700 000 metric tonnes of maize to compliment Government efforts in mitigating grain shortages will be launched this Friday at the Bulawayo edition of the Zimbabwe Food Conference and Expo. The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe is expected to present to stakeholders the elaborate private sector 700 000 metric tonnes maize importation programme for the period September 2015 to July 30 2016.

GMAZ chairman Mr Tafadzwa Musarara said the maize importation programme has already been presented to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in his capacity as the Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on food security.

“The plan has put in place measures that will see adequate supplies of maize meal and stock feeds available at stable prices. GMAZ has also proposed to Government a number of measures relating to cross border trading with South Africa and Zambia to ensure a smooth flow of maize into the country,” said Mr Musarara.

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko will be the Guest of Honour at the Indaba to be held at the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel.

The indaba is expected to highlight the opportunities for local food processing companies arising from the imminent regional food shortages.

“This conference seeks to buttress on the dictates of the Mid Term policy that is calling for the localisation of the importation of the food commodities for the benefit of local agricultural and manufacturing sectors,” he said.

According to the ZFCE Bulawayo edition programme, some of the issues expected to feature at the indaba include promoting full recovery of livestock farming in Matabeleland which will be tackled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, the Cold Storage Commission, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union, among others.

Stakeholders are expected to also deliberate on driving towards national self-sustenance to be addressed by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, the Livestock Advisory Council, National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe and GMAZ.

The first edition of the ZFCE was held in Harare last month where stakeholders tackled three thematic issues – the economic status of the food manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe, social and policy issues on the food sector in Zimbabwe with focus on the pros and cons of genetically modified foods, the state of food fortification as a health issue among other issues and food relief and expectations of the Government and donor community.

Unlike the Harare conference and expo which was a one day event, the Bulawayo edition will run from Friday to Saturday.

The conference will run concurrently with an exhibition to be held outside the City Hall and only exclusive to locally manufactured food commodities.

“More than 50 leading food processing companies are expected to exhibit.

“This expo will provide an opportunity for food companies to showcase their products to the consuming public.

“There will be cookouts, eating competitions and many other exciting promotional activities,” said Mr Musarara.