Doubts over Zim maize claims
2005-07-18 10:57
Special Report
A classical music presenter for the BBC has been arrested and is in custody in Zimbabwe.
Johannesburg - Experts in Zimbabwe have cast serious doubts on claims by the Zimbabwe government that it is able to secure 1.2 million tons of maize to feed millions of food insecure households, the United Nations' Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) said on Monday.
The authorities have been reluctant to launch an official appeal for international aid to stave off widespread food shortages, saying the government was capable of importing adequate stocks to address the shortfall.
Relief agencies have estimated that up to 4.5 million Zimbabweans would need food aid this year, but officials maintain that just 1.5 million people require food assistance, based on a government crop assessment undertaken between December and January, IRIN said.
Recent figures showed that drought conditions had reduced the maize harvest to around 600 000 tons, against a national consumption requirement of 1.8 million tons.
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) plans to import 600 000 tons to build its strategic reserves.
But a senior European Union food security analyst in Harare expressed serious concerns, saying the figures did not add up and the government, already strapped for hard currency, was unlikely to follow through on its promises.
EU food security programme coordinator Pierre-Luc Vanhaeverbeke said: "The government says it has plans to procure maize for food use, but so far it has not backed up where they would source the funds from to pay for these imports.
"The 1.2 million tons will definitely be adequate to meet the needs of the vulnerable, but so far there hasn't been any major import of maize, and we are all wondering how true the information is."
Sources noted that just a fraction of the necessary maize - around 260 000 tons - had been delivered.
Surplus stocks from South Africa are expected to be the main source of imports.
Recurring fuel shortages also threaten to complicate food distribution.
Apart from needing foreign exchange to import food, the county has to find enough money to bring in fuel, electricity, medical supplies and other essentials.
Zimbabwe public service, labour and social welfare minister Nicholas Goche told IRIN: "All I can say is that we are importing large quantities of grain, particularly from South Africa.
"I cannot give you the exact budget for importing and distributing the grain around the country, but the GMB already has a system which we shall make use of."
- I-Net Bridge (Business)