The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has assured the country that basic food commodities will remain stable and available despite recurring climate shocks and global supply chain disruptions.

Speaking at the National Agriculture Conference and Expo (NACE) 2026, GMAZ Chairman Dr Tafadzwa Musarara said private millers have established a robust regional pipeline to supply maize, wheat, and rice to meet domestic demand through the ongoing El Niño cycle.

“To the nation, I use this opportunity to say that there will be no shortages in the next few years,” Dr Musarara said.

“The net position of Southern Africa at the moment, the main supply net position is that there is a surplus. There is a surplus in Malawi, surplus in South Africa, surplus in Zambia. Only here were we the epicenter of the drought.”

Under the association’s import strategy, millers plan to procure 1.6 million tonnes of maize between now and August 2027, with procurement projections extending through 2028.

Dr Musarar said monthly import targets include 110,000 metric tonnes of maize, 65,000 metric tonnes of wheat, and 30,000 metric tonnes of rice.

To secure maize stocks, he said millers are prioritising imports from Zambia, where non-GMO maize prices have dropped, supported by the Food Reserve Agency in Lusaka, alongside imports from South Africa to supply the southern region.

Addressing consumer pricing, Dr. Musarara emphasised that the private sector’s primary goal is market stability.

He said GMAZ aims to keep the daily demand of 1.8 million to 2 million loaves supplied at $1 per loaf, while keeping mealie meal prices between $5 and $5.50 per bag.

He highlighted that GMAZ has engaged both the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to streamline logistics and import licensing frameworks.

To overcome shipping delays linked to global geopolitical friction, the association is lobbying authorities to extend import license validity beyond the current three-month limit, particularly for wheat shipments originating from Russia.

Dr Musarara commended the Grain Marketing Board for its strong market performance in pricing and farmer payments, while welcoming the government’s commitment to a private-sector-led agricultural economy.

Since 2020, he said GMAZ members have spent over $1.8 billion importing maize, wheat, and rice to secure the country’s food pipeline.