Shortages feared as Zimbabwe bans maize import #zimbabwe

Zimbabweans have slammed the government's
ban on imports of the staple maize and maize meal
decrying the prohibition would create shortages.
Zimbabwe recently announced it had banned the
importation of the products to protect ordinary farmers
following a bumper harvest this year.
The business community has thus called on the government
to reverse its decision amid reports local farmers said they
would not sell their produce to the formal market due to
poor prices.
Businessman, Fainos Murombe, of Masvingo said the ban
would create artificial shortages with farmers reluctant to
deliver their crop to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
"We are starting to feel the bad effects of the move because
as it stands, no farmer has delivered any maize to the
formal market despite projections that the country had a
bumper harvest", said Murombe.
"While this was done under the guise of protecting farmers
the move will further negatively affect our economy through
artificial shortages, I foresee a scenario where maize and
maize meal will only be traded outside the formal market.
We are urging the government to immediately reverse its
decision for the benefit of the nation," he added.
Another businessman, Fibrin Mukanda, echoed Murombe's
sentiments.
"Most supermarkets are currently filled with maize meal
from South African Maize. The product has been on the
market since 2005 and banning it will not solve anything, "
he said.
If you want to grow your economy market forces should be
allowed to prevail that is to say let our own products
compete with those from anywhere else in the region and at
the end of the day a better product will find its way out due
to competition because of its quality he added.
Consumers also expressed concern the ban would result in
hunger reminiscent of the economic problems experienced
five years ago.
"We are saying the government should reverse its decision
because we do not want to go back to 2008 where maize
and maize meals were pure gold in terms of scarcity.