The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) announced that 24 of its members, including major producer Blue Ribbon Foods, have suspended milling operations in Bulawayo. The association attributed the decision to a shortage of maize allocated by the state for the country’s southern region.
The action was communicated in a formal letter from the association addressed to several government bodies. The recipients included the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, and the Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs.
According to the letter, the halt in production by the 24 millers is a direct response to the unavailability of sufficient maize from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB). The GMB is the state-run entity responsible for managing and distributing the country’s strategic grain reserves to registered millers.
Bulawayo is the primary economic hub for Zimbabwe’s southern provinces, including Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, and parts of the Midlands. The suspension of milling operations directly impacts the production and supply of maize meal, a staple food for the population in these areas. The GMAZ notification specified that the maize shortage prevents the affected millers from adequately servicing these provinces.
In Zimbabwe, the GMB operates as the sole authorized buyer of maize from local farmers and is the primary seller of the grain to commercial millers. The system is designed to maintain national food security and stabilize prices. The notification from GMAZ indicates a disruption in this established supply chain for its members operating out of Bulawayo.
The communication from the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe did not provide a timeline for when the suspended operations might resume. As of this report, officials from the notified government ministries have not issued a public response to the association’s letter.
