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Maize shortage in Zimbabwe turning critical
Dumisani Muleya, Business Day (SA)
August 18, 2006

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/world.aspx?ID=BD4A252359

THE Zimbabwean government is seeking $250m in humanitarian assistance to "save lives" as the country’s political and economic situation worsens.

The appeal to donors comes as maize stocks run out in Bulawayo due to what authorities claim are contract-related issues between South African suppliers and the state-run grain monopoly, the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).

United Nations (UN) relief agencies have dispatched a $250m aid appeal for Zimbabwe, warning money and resources are urgently needed to save lives.

More than one in 12 Zimbabweans now urgently need food assistance.

The country, which used to export maize to other countries in the region, has not been able to produce enough maize for its people since the government seized white-owned commercial farms in 2000.

It has been surviving through western donations despite its leadership’s hostile attitude towards western countries.

Although the government claimed it would produce 1,8-million tons of maize, enough to feed the country throughout the year, it managed only a paltry 800000 tons, forcing GMB to resort to imports from SA.

Most countries in the region, including former net importers such as Zambia, are now selling maize to Zimbabwe.

The shortage of maize in Bulawayo and surrounding areas has resulted in a scarcity of maize meal, the staple food for the majority of local people.

GMB acting CE Samuel Muvuti said maize imported from SA was stuck at Beitbridge border post due to contract disagreements with suppliers.

"Maize is in Beitbridge because of an anomaly in the contracts that we had with our suppliers and we are trying to correct that," Muvuti said.

Millers in Bulawayo said the maize shortage had reached crisis proportions. They had not produced maize meal for two weeks.

UN international relief agencies sent out the consolidated appeal for aid to various western donor countries and non-governmental organisations that have been providing aid. The appeal is for food, HIV/AIDS treatment drugs and aid to meet other critical needs.

"It is believed that the humanitarian situation is likely to continue to deteriorate, particularly due to the steady decline of the economy, which will have an adverse effect for already vulnerable sections of the population," the appeal says.

"The priorities for the next six months and beyond will be to save lives, enhance positive coping mechanisms and livelihoods, mitigate the impact on vulnerable populations, and ensure a comprehensive and co-ordinated humanitarian response from national and international actors."

Maize is a controlled commodity in Zimbabwe and is sold only to the GMB. It distributes it for milling to private firms.

Millers said the GMB wanted some firms to collect the maize from Beitbridge, but this was unsustainable and would push the price of maize meal beyond the reach of many people. In Harare most shops had stocks of maize meal, with some saying deliveries were expected to resume this week after a two-day holiday.

Aid agencies warned of another food deficit in the country this year, saying a lack of inputs undermined production in the cropping season. With Reuters

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