Harare — Zimbabwe and Zambia have entered a partnership that will see the two countries co-operating on food security issues.

This followed a four-day meeting between the Grain Marketing Board and Zambia's Food Reserve Agency to discuss wide-ranging issues concerning national food security.

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe chairperson Mr Tafadzwa Musarara, who attended the meetings, on Monday said local stakeholders had seen it necessary to approach regional food security bodies and find ways of boosting Zimbabwe's grain reserves.

Food Reserve Agency of Zambia chief executive Dr Antony Mwanaumo said his organisation was seeking new areas of co-operation with greater emphasis on food security. The two organisations will co-operate on silo rehabilitation and silo management, and training on grain trading among others.

GMB has been involved in rehabilitating Zambia's silos.

The Zambian delegation expressed optimism on the growing level of co-operation between the two organisations.

In 2008, Zimbabwe had a maize deficit of 600 000 tonnes and imported part of the needed grain from Zambia.