Zimbabwe has ended its temporary ban on maize imports from South Africa amid mounting local shortages, although new regulations impose sourcing restrictions to protect domestic farmers. The measures, set to take effect in the second quarter of 2026, require processors to source at least 40% of their annual grain, oilseed, and product requirements locally from 1 April 2026, rising to 100% by 1 April 2028.
Balancing Market Needs and Farmer Protection
Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Obert Jiri, emphasized that lifting the ban does not signal reduced support for local farmers.
“We protect our farmers to ensure they have a market at harvest. But when commercial stocks run low, we allow imports to enable millers to operate at capacity,” he explained.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Raj Modi, confirmed he had lobbied for the move after observing shortages in local markets.
Regional Implications
South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, welcomed the decision, noting that it restores market predictability and strengthens regional trade within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“Restrictive trade measures often distort markets and harm consumers. By allowing the free flow of maize — particularly white maize, a staple for many — we signal confidence to agribusinesses and encourage investment and production,” Steenhuisen said.
Questions About Zimbabwe’s Harvest
Despite government claims of a bumper 2024/25 maize harvest of 1.8 million tons, experts say the reality may be closer to 1.3 million tons, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, noted that the rapid onset of shortages following the import ban casts doubt on official figures.
“Zimbabwe’s annual maize needs are about 2 million tons. Even with a harvest of 1.8 million tons, shortages would not have appeared this quickly,” Sihlobo said.
The lifting of the ban allows Zimbabwean households to access competitively priced maize from international markets, which is expected to ease food price inflation.
Regional Supply Outlook
Sihlobo highlighted South Africa and Zambia as likely suppliers to fill Zimbabwe’s shortfall, estimated at around 700,000 tons. South Africa’s maize exports for the 2025/26 marketing year so far total 729,690 tons, with Zimbabwe accounting for 18%. With the formal removal of the ban, Zimbabwe’s share is expected to increase, boosting demand for South African white maize.
