HARARE: The government has imported over 100,000 tonnes of maize worth $12.7 million since last October under the drought relief programme aimed at assisting vulnerable families with food. Some 3.3 million people are in need of food aid and the government has stepped up its grain mobilisation and distribution efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of drought.
In his report to the National Consultative Assembly on Friday last week, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the grain payments were made under the $200 million Afreximbank facility.
“Government has made a commitment to import up to 700,000 metric tonnes of maize over the period October 2015 to December 2016. As at 31 May 2016, government had imported 112,131 metric tonnes of maize. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has paid $12.7 million for deliveries made to date under the $200 million Afreximbank facility,” said Minister Chinamasa.
He said the government also provided the Grain Marketing Board, the Department of Social Services and District Development Fund with $3 million to meet costs associated with internal distribution of maize. Minister Chinamasa said cumulative distribution of maize to the vulnerable households countrywide since January this year stood at 94,300 metric tonnes against a target of 120,000 metric tonnes.
