Government Imposes Ban On Grain Imports
The Government has triggered outrage after gazetting Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, which places severe restrictions on the importation of grains, oilseeds, and related products, a move critics warn will deepen food insecurity and drive up prices for struggling Zimbabweans.
Issued by Agriculture Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka under the Agricultural Marketing Authority Act [Chapter 18:24], the new law effectively shuts the door on imports and forces local processors to rely almost entirely on domestic production over the next three years.
Analysts fear the policy will backfire, pointing out that Zimbabwe’s agricultural output has been erratic due to recurrent droughts, input shortages, and poor government planning. Under the new rules, processors must source at least 40% of their raw materials locally by April 2026, rising to 100% by April 2028—despite widespread doubts that local farmers can meet demand.
Critics also warn that the pricing mechanism introduced in the Statutory Instrument—where the difference between landed import prices and local parity prices will be siphoned into the Agricultural Revolving Fund—amounts to yet another hidden tax on consumers.
Instead of securing food supplies, the government’s move risks creating artificial shortages, escalating prices, and placing the burden of failed agricultural policies squarely on ordinary citizens who are already battling skyrocketing living costs.
