LONDON: British government has extended a 25 million dollar loan facility to Zimbabwe towards the procurement of grain maize to fight hunger that is affecting over four million people countrywide.
The grain loan scheme which the Theresa May administration has given to Zimbabwe will see the country procure enough maize to feed the nation until the next harvesting season.
Extended through the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) by Britain’s humanitarian aid department, the Department for International Development, the loan has a one year repayment time frame.
GMAZ chairman, Tafadzwa Musarara, told NewZimbabwe at the weekend that the loan facility will enable independent millers to buy grain from the region and beyond.
“I think you are aware that the country’s grain reserves need to be supplemented so that no one starves until the next harvesting season and both farmers and millers are sourcing not only maize but also funding so that we buy the maize,” said Musarara.
Musarara said the money will also be used to pay for grain consignments they have secured from countries such as Tanzania and Mexico where GMAZ has secured over 100 000 metric tonnes of maize.
The GMAZ boss said his office was processing the loan facility details, adding that first priority is going to be given to millers in the hard hit areas.
“Our members are going to access this interest free facility as it is meant to provide food to the starving nation; and we are going to start with those in areas where drought is most severe and we are urging our members to constantly check with us as to when they can start to get the loans which should be available anytime from next week,” added Musarara.
GMAZ said it has acquired 100 wagons and some locomotives from the National Railways of Zimbabwe and other private transporters that will be used to transport the maize imports.
