Malawi’s maize imports from Zambia delayed over payment shortfall
The government has imposed a ban on maize exports to curb further depletion of national stocks.
MALAWI – Malawi’s plan to import 200,000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize from Zambia, valued at about K134.8 billion (US$77 million), has hit a delay as the government struggles to remit a required 40% down payment of roughly K53.9 billion (US$30.8 million).
The delay has stalled the inflow of the grain, critical to easing an 800,000 MT national deficit amid a worsening food crisis affecting about four million Malawians.
According to Arnold Namanja, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, the maize deal, signed on October 22, 2025, between Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika and his Zambian counterpart Hakainde Hichilema, is yet to progress as officials finalize paperwork, secure financing, and arrange logistics.
“The ministries of Agriculture, Justice, and Treasury together with the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) are finalizing the requisite documentation and identifying transporters. The maize will only start moving once the initial 40% payment is completed,” Namanja told The Nation.
The maize imports are part of an urgent national response to stabilize prices and replenish the Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) during the lean season from October 2025 to March 2026.
However, as logistical and financing hurdles persist, food insecurity continues to deepen across 11 districts recently declared disaster zones by President Mutharika.
At the launch of the 2025–26 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme in Machinga on November 1, Agriculture Minister Roza Fatch Mbilizi said Malawi needs K168.82 billion (US$96.42 million) to support food security operations, but only K46 billion (US$26.18 million) has so far been mobilised.
“Our plea is that we must close this financing gap to ensure smooth programme implementation. We know our development partners will come through,” she stated.
To mitigate the gap before Zambian imports arrive, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has begun distributing 25,982 MT of maize drawn from the SGR.
The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) is also releasing 10,000 MT for price stabilization, while NFRA continues purchasing from local large-scale farmers to bolster reserves.
Meanwhile, the government has imposed a ban on maize exports to curb further depletion of national stocks.
Secretary for Industrialization, Business, Trade, and Tourism, Charity Musonzo, said the restriction seeks to stabilize domestic supply and protect millions who rely on maize as their staple.
“Maize is a licensable public commodity under the Control of Goods Act. Exporting it without authorization is illegal, and offenders will face legal action,” she warned.
Malawi’s food crisis has been exacerbated by prolonged dry spells and repeated climate shocks, including floods and cyclones that have disrupted agricultural output over the past five years.
During his address to Parliament in September, President Mutharika described the crisis as “a national emergency” and appealed to the international community for food aid and financial support.
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