By Chris Mahove
The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has warned of a possible bread shortage if the currently dire wheat situation is not addressed amid revelations that the Reserve Bank Zimbabwe has been reneging on promises to pay suppliers.
GMAZ chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has failed to avail $12 million in foreign currency for procurement of wheat stocks from a United Kingdom-based company, Holbud Limited UK.
The company has since threatened to divert the wheat supplies to other countries.
In a letter to the RBZ Governor John Mangudya dated 20 August 2018, Musarara said the country’s wheat stocks had dwindled to critical levels with flour millers stopping operations as a result.
“The country is now holding 2.5 weeks’ supply cover,” he said.
“The Holbud 30,000 metric tonnes of wheat in Beira is the only consignment physically available in Southern Africa as at current.
“This shipment had been shipped by GMAZ. Unless we pay for it this week, we regret to advise that a crippling shortage of bread and raising flour supplies, aggravated by panic buying, is likely to occur anytime this week.”
“We had been promised several times but, to date, payment has not been received, making our position with our bankers very bad although we were the only company to fulfil the commitment by bringing around 3000 metric tonnes during the drought period and avoiding maize shortage in the country,” wrote Musarara.
Holbud has also claimed it was also owed almost US$11 million for 25 000 metric tonnes of fertilizer supplied in January this year.
“As mentioned to you in our offer, we can’t keep the wheat in Beira for long as you are aware the international situation of wheat is very tight due to drought in most wheat growing areas in the world and prices are very firm.
GMAZ general manager Lynnete Veremu said the country only had only 28,000 tonnes of wheat left against a minimum requirement of 38,000 metric tonnes per month.
She said despite wheat being in category 1 of the RBZ’s foreign currency priority allocation list along with fuel, fuel was getting U$S21 million per week consistently while wheat allocated “a paltry 12.450 million per month for the entire national requirements”.
“Self-raising flour has disappeared from many shops nationwide. Small bread bakers are stocked out.
“I strongly recommend that you alert the powers that be of this predicament as the country is fast plunging into severe flour and bread stock-outs in the next few days,” wrote Veremu in a letter to Musarara.
