Published by the government of Zimbabwe
25 September 2007
Harare — AT least 1 000 tonnes of wheat, the first consignment of the 36 000 tonnes that was being held in Mozambique, has arrived in Zimbabwe after Government secured foreign currency to pay the supplier.
This arrival of the wheat is expected to significantly improve supplies and ease shortages of bread and confectionery.
Chairman of the National Taskforce on Food Procurement and Distribution and Minister of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement Cde Didymus Mutasa yesterday said the wheat had arrived in the country.
"I confirm that the first batch of 1 000 tonnes has arrived at the Grain Marketing Board Grain silos and we are expecting more deliveries soon," Cde Mutasa said.
Cde Mutasa said GMB should today start distributing the wheat to millers across the country.
"We expect the GMB to start distributing the wheat so that milling starts as soon as possible to ease bread shortages," said Cde Mutasa.
National Railways of Zimbabwe -- which is transporting the grain -- confirmed the arrival of the consignment, adding that it would play its part by expediting the transportation of the wheat to ease bread shortages.
"I confirm that we are transporting the wheat from Mozambique to GMB grain silos in Chegutu. So far we have moved at least 1 000 tonnes," NRZ public relations manager Mr Fanuel Masikati said.
The 36 000 tonnes of wheat have been held in Beira, Mozambique, while the international grain supplier awaited payment.
Zimbabwe is presently facing foreign currency shortages owing to the illegal economic sanctions imposed by the West that have seen lines of credit and balance of payment support being cut off.
Wheat shortages had forced some of the major bakeries such as Lobel's Bread, Bakers Inn and Marondera-based Proton Bakers to scale down operations, worsening bread shortages in the process.
A Lobel's Bread official yesterday said they were expecting deliveries by tomorrow in line with promises by Government.
"We are expecting deliveries by Wednesday. So call on Wednesday we will give you an update," Lobel's operations manager Mr Lemmy Chikomo said.
Zimbabwe consumes at least 400 000 tonnes of wheat annually but yields have been declining in recent years, forcing Government to import the bulk of the wheat to meet national requirements.
Government last week increased the producer price of wheat from $217 933 to $42 million per tonne as it seeks to bring back viability to wheat producers.
The new price will be effected on all deliveries beginning this marketing season, which begins in October.
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