GMAZ engages govt to avert bread shortage

THE Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has engaged government to access foreign currency to clear outstanding payments on imported wheat as an acute bread shortage looms.

Wheat stocks have severely depleted over the past few weeks as bakers push for permission to sell bread exclusively in United States dollars.

Millers and bakers are reportedly at loggerheads with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) over its late disbursement of forex to winning bids at the foreign currency auction floor.

GMAZ chairman Tafadzwa Musarara admitted that the country was struggling to procure enough wheat due to lack of foreign currency.

Said Musarara: “We can confirm that National Foods Limited, the biggest wheat miller, and other three major bread flour producers have temporarily stopped producing bread flour on account of limited stocks of wheat due remittance challenges. We are pleased to advise that the association has already mobilised imported wheat which is in the country and readily available upon payment.”

GMAZ is hopeful that its engagement with government would yield positive results that will see the country becoming wheat sufficient.

“In our latest representations to the government, we offered alternatives which are now under government consideration and we are hopeful that the government will make necessary pronouncements as soon as possible.

“All the major bakeries as of today are adequately supplied with bread flour. As we are hopeful for a greenlight soon, we do not anticipate any supply gaps which may trigger shortages on the market,” Musarara said.

“Accordingly, consumers are advised not to panic-buy. All major bread flour milling companies are geared to resume production as soon as we get guidance from the government,” he added.