Zimbabwe’s maize import ban has been lifted – officially. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen hailed the move as “a return to sound economic principles essential for the prosperity and stability of the Southern African region”.
By Nico van Burick, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Zimbabwe’s Agricultural Marketing Authority announced about a week ago that legislation had been promulgated to lift the ban on the import of maize and other grains.
Steenhuisen says exports stabilise local prices, and the Zimbabwean market plays an important role for both white and yellow maize.
“This is an extremely welcome development that underscores the collective responsibility we share in ensuring food sufficiency,” the minister said in a statement released on 22 October.
“The agricultural sector thrives on predictability and efficiency, and restrictive trade measures, while sometimes intended to protect local producers, too often lead to market distortions that ultimately harm the consumer.”
He added that the formal lifting of the ban was crucial for food security and consumer welfare across the Southern African region.
Also read: Zimbabwe’s maize import ban could be short-lived
Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, says the initial aim of the ban was to support Zimbabwean farmers by ensuring that processors prioritised domestic supplies.
The Zimbabwean government estimated its 2024/25 maize harvest at 1,8 million tonnes – significantly higher than the US Department of Agriculture’s Pretoria office, which projected 1,3 million tonnes, against a local demand of 2 million tonnes.
Sihlobo notes that shortly after the ban was announced at the end of August, millers began experiencing shortages. In early September, despite the ban, about 65 090 tonnes of maize were imported from South Africa to Zimbabwe – raising suspicions that the restriction had already been quietly lifted.
He says the formal announcement now provides clarity and will facilitate the free flow of maize to Zimbabwe, adding that more South African maize exports are likely to follow.
Also read: Zimbabwe’s maize production is recovering, but import needs remain substantial
‘A Clear Signal of Confidence’
Steenhuisen says allowing the free flow of maize – particularly white maize, a staple food in the region – sends a clear signal of confidence to agribusinesses and exporters, encouraging them to invest and expand production for the benefit of all within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He adds that South Africa’s Department of Agriculture remains committed to collaborating with all regional partners to promote fair, open and efficient trade in agricultural products, which is the cornerstone of sustainable growth and poverty alleviation in Southern Africa.
Also read: Exports of SA maize to Far East resume
