Zimbabwe will import 800 000 tonnes of maize following last season’s poor rains which led to a drought, President Mnangagwa has said.

The country is already in negotiations with potential suppliers, including Tanzania which has promised to help.

Addressing villagers on Monday after officially opening the US$20 million rehabilitated Ngundu-Tanganda Highway in Chipinge, the President said Government will ensure no one starved.

He stressed that food relief will not be distributed along partisan lines.
“I want to assure you that this drought did not affect Chipinge alone,” said the President, while speaking in vernacular.

“There were not enough rains throughout the country. Although some areas received some rains, all provinces had some areas where there were not enough rains.”
President Mnangagwa said while other provinces had a good harvest, others did not.

“Some provinces had a good harvest and their surplus should be moved to the affected provinces,” he said.
“Overall, we need to import around 800 000 tonnes because our principle is that no one should die of hunger.”State media