The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has assured the country that there will be adequate supply of bread during the winter season as they have sealed a deal to import 90 000 metric tonnes of wheat from Canada between now and November.
Addressing the media in the capital today, GMAZ Chairman, Tafadzwa Musarara said his organisation negotiated with Canada traders for the importation of 200 000 metric tonnes of wheat to supplement the depleting national stocks.
“We are entering a high demand or pick season for bread consumption where consumers consumes a lot of tea and therefore consumes more bread.
“We would like to assure consumers that there is no need to panic at the moment, we have done everything that needs to be put in place to ensure we meet the winter high demand requirements,” he said.
“Between now and November, 90 000 metric tonnes of wheat will be coming from Canada and beyond that we also want to make it to two hundred thousand tonnes by December 2018.
“We have seen a shift of flour from an annual consumption of 350 000 in 2010 to four hundred and fifty thousand tonnes this year,” added Musarara.
He added that a Canadian traders delegation is due in the country in two weeks to finalize the deal, adding that another wheat shipment from Germany will arrive at the Beira port on 7 June.
“In two weeks time we are going to receive a delegation of the Canadian traders coming here to finalize on the deal.
“We are going to start the Canadian shipments in mid September and we have managed to get some Germany wheat which will be at Beira on the 7th of June and arrive in Harare ten days later,” said Musarara.
According to Musarara, GMAZ anticipates much lower prices for the imported wheat as they have reduced the number of middlemen between the Canadian farmers and Zimbabwe millers.
