Harare, (New Ziana) – The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has more than 170,000 metric tonnes of maize in stock, ensuring the country’s long-term food sufficiency.
This was revealed by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere in a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday.
“The Second Round of Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment of 12 April 2024 indicated that there was adequate grain at the national level. The grain stock at the Grain Marketing Board as at 17 November 2025 stood at 178 316 metric tonnes, constituting less than 10% of the national intake.
“The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has contributed 91 792 metric tonnes to the grain stocks at GMB. Regarding wheat production, a total of 640 195 metric tonnes has been harvested from 122 146 hectares, at an average yield of 5.2 metric tonnes per hectare. A total of 47 709 metric tonnes of barley have been harvested from the 6 156 hectares planted. The distribution of inputs is continuing.
“As of 12 November 2025, a total of 35 929 hectares had been planted to tobacco across the provinces, reflecting a 6% increase from the 33 970 hectares planted at the same time in 2024,” Dr Muswere said.
Relatedly, he said 190 million kilogrammes of tobacco, valued at US$1.06 billion, had been exported as of 13 November 2025, compared to the 192.2 million kilogrammes worth US$1.03 billion exported last year.
Cabinet also approved the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFRTS-2) as the country’s new agriculture roadmap, building on the success of the AFRTS-1.
“It is the sector implementation plan of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), intended to accelerate the attainment of Vision 2030. The AFRTS-2 has adopted a value stream and value creation continuum, emphasising a holistic approach to development.
“Using the food systems approach and value chain perspective, the AFRTS-2 is designed around five strategic impact areas in line with NDS-2. These are food security and food sovereignty, nutrition security, improved livelihoods, agriculture-based and led economic growth, and land and tenure security,” Dr Muswere said.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also considered and approved the review of licences, permits, levies and fees in the energy sector, in line with the Cabinet decision of 29 July 2025, which approved the implementation of a raft of business reforms in twelve sectors of the economy.
“The review process is aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, increasing competitiveness, and enhancing the growth of the Zimbabwean economy. The review of licences, permits, levies and fees in the energy sector followed extensive whole-of-Government and societal approach consultations, which were attended by Ministries, departments and agencies, and the energy sector players.
“The energy sub-sector licences, permits, levies and fees which have been reviewed are electricity generation, transmission, distribution and secondary distribution; petroleum importation, wholesale and retail; liquefied petroleum gas importation, wholesale and retail,” Dr Muswere said.
Among the reviewed levies, licences, fees and permits, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) licence application fee has been reduced from US$2 500 to US$2 000 while the ZERA solar generation licence of US$2 875 has been removed completely.
It was noted that investment in the energy sector has largely been driven by the Government, and this model has become unsustainable, given the limited fiscal space and lack of access to external sources.
“The reviewed licences, permits, levies and fees will be subjected to further refinements, and the appropriate schedule shall be duly gazetted after Ministries have effected the necessary legislative and administrative changes,” Dr Muswere added.
New Ziana
