Malawi eases maize import ban, plans to source maize flour from Tanzania, South Africa

MALAWI – Malawi will start importing maize flour from Tanzania and South Africa to feed the 4.4 million people who are facing food shortages in the country.

The news were disclosed by Charles Kalemba, the Commissioner for Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) to journalists in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi.

The commissioner was speaking on the sidelines of President Lazarus Chakwera’s meeting with the World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for Southern Africa Bureau, Menghestab Haile, at the president’s office.

Kalemba’s remarks cleared the controversy that was caused by Malawi’s suspension of maize import from Tanzania and Kenya over “devastating” Maize Lethal Necrosis, a disease that researchers in Malawi said could completely wipe out the staple crop if unchecked.

In December, Malawi’s government banned the import of unmilled maize grain from Kenya and Tanzania because of concerns that the spread of MLN could wipe out the country’s staple crop.

The ministry of agriculture said the disease has no treatment and can cause up to 100% yield loss.

Later, reports indicated that the World Bank had committed US$20 Million to purchasing of maize from Tanzania to support the needy Malawians, but the funder was stuck with the importation ban.

But the DoDMA commissioner said it had been resolved that Malawi should import maize flour from Tanzania and not the staple food in its grain form.

“We are getting maize flour from Tanzania and South Africa. The Ministry of Agriculture did not say we cannot get maize from Tanzania. The issue is about full grain maize that can be planted. But getting maize for food in a form of flour is okay,” Kalemba said

On his part, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa Menghestab Haile, who was meeting with Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera Tuesday told reporters that several other African countries are also facing a hunger situation.

“The problem of food insecurity is not only in Malawi,” he said. “The whole region is looking at a crisis; we don’t know what El Nino will do. So, what we as WFP do is supporting the government in every way possible to make sure that we have necessary resources mobilized and distribute to people who deserve those resources.”

In the meantime, Malawi’s government has announced that it will import unmilled maize grain from South Africa.

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