Zimbabwean Minister of State for National Security Didymus Mutasa has said that the government is to import 50,000 tons of wheat to complement 15,000 tons already in stock to avert looming bread shortages.

Minister of State Mutasa was quoted by Wednesday's Daily Mirror as saying that the government was importing 50,000 tons of wheat through Mozambique's port of Beira.

The minister explained that the 15,000 tons were reserved for bakers by some millers, but the confectionery manufacturers were yet to pay for the wheat.

Zimbabwe consumes about 400,000 tons of wheat yearly, but in 2005, the country managed to produce 95,000 tons. The government through Grain Marketing Board (GMB) imported the balance.

The Millers Association of Zimbabwe recently said that the GMB was now giving bakers 400 tons of wheat a week, down from 600 tons.

It said the shortage of the grain could force bakers to import flour from South Africa, which could lead to more bread price increases.

Zimbabwe is expected to produce between 450,000 and 500,000 tons of wheat annually.

Source: Xinhua