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Business Reporter
THE Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe has condemned the importation of flour and maize meal as the main cause of problems and challenges faced by the milling industry. In his speech at the opening of the food security and nutrition summit in Bulawayo on Thursday, the GMAZ chairman Tafadzwa Musarara said the government must completely ban the importation of finished products because it had done no good but instead had continued to kill the milling industry.
“Importation of flour and maize meal has caused more than 22 millers in Matabeleland provinces to close which have suppressed local maize producer prices, caused loss of employment and closure of downstream industry,” said Musarara.
GMAZ bemoaned the failure by government to deal with the situation and called on the government to consider the local millers and support them to promote increased productivity, which would translate to food security in the country.
“The milling industry agreed with the government that imports of maize meal are supposed to mitigate on the product deficit in the market and must be destined to the very remote areas.
“Unfortunately we continue to see an avalanche of imported maize meal in urban areas where local millers are situated,” he said.
Musarara said there was a need to support the Grain Marketing Board to complement the milling industry.
“As industry, we have regrettably noticed that this important institution has experienced a very long period of serious drought of funding. Its infrastructure, which is critical to the milling industry, continues to diminish,” he said.
He said the GMB debt to local farmers has caused many farmers to abandon maize farming for tobacco.
“GMB debts to local farmers have precipitated massive exodus of farmers from maize production to tobacco farming which has seriously affected the milling industry,” said Musarara.
Regional chairperson of GMAZ Thembinkosi Ndlovu said as millers they were able to mill enough for the whole country.
“The importation of finished products should be banned and at the same time the Grain Marketing Board should be capacitated so that as millers we have access to adequate maize so that we mill for the nation,” said Ndlovu.
Regional officer for Bulawayo Consumer Council of Zimbabwe Comfort Muchekeza said it is important to support local millers by banning the imports of finished products.
“We have to support our local millers and promote the local products. The starting point should be the complete ban of importation of finished products,” he said.
He said the millers should on the other hand give assurance to produce quality maize meal at competitive prices to all the consumers.
“GMAZ has to assure the consumers of quality maize meal at affordable prices to avoid the influx of foreign products,” said Muchekeza.
Online Reporter