The government has declared 9,000 metric tonnes of grain stockpiled at two Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots to be unfit for human consumption, which is a crucial development for Zimbabwe’s food security. This move highlights a serious food safety issue at a time when the country is still dealing with the devastation caused by an El Nino-induced drought.
Anxious Masuka, the minister of agriculture, fisheries, water, and rural development, brought up the matter last week in a parliamentary session and emphasized the government’s commitment to making sure that the food supplied to the public satisfies minimal quality criteria. “We cannot, under any circumstances, permit inferior grain to be imported and dispersed within the nation,” Masuka declared, raising doubts on the reliability of food assistance given to Zimbabweans.
The problem came to light when it was discovered that a significant portion of the grain stored at the GMB depots had been compromised. “For the grain that is held by the GMB, the 426,088 metric tonnes as of midnight the day before yesterday, just under 9,000 metric tonnes is unfit for human consumption,” Masuka reported. The affected grain, primarily maize stored at the Lion’s Den and Murehwa depots, now redirected for livestock feeding, represents a substantial loss for a country already facing critical food shortages.
Masuka clarified that improper maintenance and overcapacity storage were the root causes of the contamination, which was made worse by a power failure that hindered the grain’s aeration. “That contamination simply occurred because there was an energy outage at the time Lion’s Den was supposed to spin and aerate the grain once a month because this is a large silo. He continued, “Therefore, the maize at the bottom was impacted.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the drought a national disaster and has requested $3 billion in food help in reaction to the situation. In addition, a flash appeal for $429 million has been issued by the UN and its allies to assist with immediate needs.
The government has taken steps to ensure the integrity of imported grain. Masuka detailed the rigorous process involved in approving grain imports, which includes obtaining detailed information about the origin of the maize, ensuring it meets Zimbabwe’s plant quarantine requirements, and conducting physical inspections at the source. “We then dispatch a team to go to that factory or the source to do a physical inspection and write a report that this maize in terms of Zimbabwe’s quality control system is fit for human consumption before that maize is shipped to Zimbabwe,” he said.
Masuka asked people to be watchful and report any suspicions of tainted food in the face of these difficulties. “If members believe that this grain may not be suitable for human consumption based on their own, thorough examination rather than a professional examination, we encourage you to take a sample and send it to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development. We will quickly analyze it and take the necessary action to make sure Zimbabweans eat food of the correct quality,” the advisor said.
