Zambia comes to rescue of starving Zimbabweans
By Nomalanga Moyo
10 May 2013
President Mugabe met Zambian Vice President Guy Scott at State House in
Harare Thursday to finalise an agreement for Zimbabwe to import 150,000
tonnes of maize from that country.
After the meeting, Scott told journalists that Zambia would start delivering
the maize soon, and said this could be as early as next week.
Although Scott did not disclose the value of the consignment, the state-run
Herald newspaper said Zimbabwe had already made a down payment of $3
million.
Scott was accompanied by Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister Efron Lungu and
Agriculture Minister Robert Sichinga.
Speaking to the state media, Agriculture Minister Joseph Made said 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 grateful to Zambia for prioritising the
country in the light of a high demand of maize by other countries in the
sub-region.
Last month, SW Radio revealed that Zimbabwe was facing severe shortages of
grain, partly due to a poor harvest and a lack of fertiliser in the last
season, with the national Grain Marketing Board having only 92,000 tonnes of
maize in its reserves.Before the ZANU PF government embarked on the chaotic
and violent farm seizures in 2000, Zimbabwe used to be the regional
breadbasket, producing enough for its local needs and exporting its corn
surplus.
But since 2000 the country has largely relied on food imports. Areas
including Matebeleland South, Masvingo, southern parts of Manicaland,
southern parts of Midlands and some parts of Matebeleland North are already
receiving food aid. But ZANU PF regularly politicize the food aid, making it
impossible for opposition supporters to access.
For some years now nearly 2 million people have had to be supported with
food aid from the international community, due to ZANU PF’s disastrous
policies.