Controversial Malawian preacher Shepherd Bushiri is set to
supply Zimbabwe with 250 000 tonnes of maize after clinching a deal with local
millers, it was revealed yesterday.
Bushiri will supply the maize through his Shepherd Bushiri
Investment (SBI), which signed a deal with the Grain Millers Association
Zimbabwe (GMAZ). A statement released by SBI said the maize would be imported
from Malawi.
“All necessary logistical arrangements are in place and
grain inflows will commence next week,” Bushiri’s representative Kajiya
Kantumoya said in the statement.
GMAZ spokesperson Garikai Chaunza confirmed the deal,
saying they were hoping to import 80 000 tonnes of maize from SBI.
“We have just signed the deal with SBI who are one of our
three grain suppliers and we hope to bring into the country 80 000 metric
tonnes of maize from them,” Chaunza said.
“We concluded this deal despite having failed to get
letters of credit from banks.
“Once again we would like to thank the government for
allowing us to embark on the grain importation scheme, which we are
implementing so that we complement the administration’s efforts of ensuring
national food security.”
Zimbabwe has been facing serious mealie-meal shortages
since late last year after a consecutive drought hit the country during the
2018/19 farming season.
The government has been struggling to import adequate
stocks of maize because of a shortage of foreign currency.
Zimbabwe is importing maize from South Africa, Uganda,
Tanzania and as far as Mexico.
The government accuses local millers of hoarding mealie
meal or diverting it to the black market where it is sold in foreign currency.
There are claims that some of the mealie-meal is smuggled
for sale outside the country, but the allegations were dismissed by millers as
unfounded. Standard
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