Zimbabwe: Private Sector Grain Import Policy Reversed Amid Drought

• Zimbabwe's government will allow increased private sector grain imports for food and feed, alongside higher household import allowances for basic foodstuffs.
• This policy reversal is a direct response to an anticipated El Niño-related drought, projected to reduce cereal production from 2.74 million tonnes (2025/26) to 1.6 million tonnes (2026/27).
• The decision effectively suspends Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, which previously mandated millers to source 40% of grain locally from April 2026, rising to 100% by April 2028.
• The policy shift occurs despite official reports of a strong 2025/26 harvest and reduced maize imports, contrasting with reports from millers of significant local maize supply declines and milling stoppages.
• Legal advisors must guide businesses on the immediate implications of these relaxed import restrictions, including changes to licensing, customs, and supply chain planning.

The government's decision marks a significant departure from its earlier import-substitution strategy, effectively suspending the stringent local sourcing requirements imposed by Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025.

Zimbabwe's government has announced a significant shift in its grain import policy, opting to allow increased private sector participation to address an anticipated shortfall in cereal production. This decision, communicated by the Cabinet on Wednesday, permits private entities to import grain to satisfy commercial demands for both food and feed. Concurrently, the government plans to raise the allowances for basic foodstuffs imported by households.

This strategic pivot comes in response to projections indicating a substantial decline in cereal output. Official forecasts predict that cereal production will fall from 2.74 million tonnes in the 2025/26 season to just 1.6 million tonnes in the 2026/27 season. This sharp reduction is primarily attributed to an impending El Niño-related drought, necessitating proactive measures to bolster national food security through expanded private sector food imports.

The government's new stance effectively reverses an import-substitution initiative introduced in 2025, marking a critical change in Zimbabwe's grain import restrictions. Under the provisions of Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, millers were previously mandated to procure a minimum of 40 percent of their grain locally starting in April 2026. This requirement was slated to escalate to 100 percent by April 2028, aiming to foster domestic agricultural reliance.

The current policy adjustment, therefore, represents a de facto suspension of these stringent local sourcing requirements. Legal counsel for businesses involved in food, feed, or agricultural trade with Zimbabwe must advise clients on the immediate implications of these relaxed grain import restrictions, including changes to licensing, customs, and supply chain planning, and the effective suspension of Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025.

Despite the recent policy shift, the backdrop includes conflicting reports regarding Zimbabwe's grain reserves. The 2025/26 season had officially yielded a robust harvest, with the second-round crop assessment indicating maize production reached 2.35 million tonnes, a 2 percent increase from the 2.29 million tonnes recorded in 2024/25. This improved output contributed to a 34 percent reduction in overall maize imports, with the import bill for maize falling to US$30.2 million in April 2026 from US$53.2 million in March, representing a 43 percent month-on-month decline.

However, a disparity between official figures and actual availability has emerged. In August, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe's southern region reported a significant decline in local maize supplies, leading to the cessation of milling operations by Blue Ribbon and 23 other millers in Bulawayo. While the government disputed these claims, asserting that Zimbabwe possessed ample maize and grain, Delta, a major cereal consumer, independently reported that grain harvests in the preceding year were lower than the official statistics indicated. These discrepancies underscore the challenges in assessing national food security and the necessity of the new Zimbabwe private sector grain import policy.

The government's proactive measures, including the new Zimbabwe private sector grain import policy, are a direct response to the looming threat of an El Niño-induced drought and its potential impact on national food security. By allowing private sector food imports and adjusting household allowances, authorities aim to mitigate the projected cereal production deficit and ensure adequate supplies for the population.

This policy change highlights the dynamic nature of Zimbabwe's food security import regulations, which are subject to rapid adjustments based on environmental conditions and supply chain realities. The move is crucial for stabilizing the market and preventing widespread shortages, particularly given the historical challenges in reconciling official agricultural output figures with the operational realities faced by millers and consumers.

Legal counsel for businesses involved in food, feed, or agricultural trade with Zimbabwe must advise clients on the immediate implications of relaxed grain import restrictions, including changes to licensing, customs, and supply chain planning, and the effective suspension of Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025.

Source: Original reporting via {source}