Staff Reporter

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has moved swiftly to set the record straight concerning the misinformation circulating on social media about Zimbabwe's maize meal stocks which they say will be depleted before the next harvest.

In a bid to dispel the misinformation, the GMB urged the nation to disregard the misleading reports circulating in some media outlets regarding the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) position.

"GMB urges the nation to disregard misleading information that has been circulated in some media pertaining to the Strategic Grain Reserve position," the statement read.

Moreover, this call for calm was further reinforced by an assurance from the GMB regarding the health of the SGR stock levels.

"The Grain Marketing Board assures the nation that it is sitting on healthy Strategic Grain Reserve stock levels for the purposes to which the SGR is intended," the statement continued.

Clarifying the situation further, the GMB highlighted that millers have been actively sourcing their grain from alternative suppliers since June 2023, in accordance with the liberalised market.

Additionally, according to the statement, despite an approved request made by millers in December 2023 for an additional 23 000 metric tonnes, they highlighted how the allocation remains largely untouched as of the present date, indicating the adequacy of existing reserves.

"The reality of the matter is that millers have been, in line with the liberalized market, acquiring their own grain from alternative sources as early as June 2023, save for an approved request in December of 23 000 MT, which even has not been exhausted by millers up to date," the statement clarified.

Meanwhile, addressing the nation during a post-cabinet briefing yesterday, Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, echoed the GMB's reassurance, affirming that there was an ample supply of grain available before the commencement of the next maize or traditional grain intake in April 2024.