NRZ wants to transport imported maize

State-Owned National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has requested to be the sole transporter of about 400 000 metric tonnes of maize the government wants to import from Zambia.

The government, together with the private sector, plans to import about 700 000 metric tonnes of maize to cater for deficits as a result of a poor harvest last season.

The country's, human and livestock maize consumption is pegged at about 2,4 million metric tonnes annually.

The ailing parastatal's acting general manger Lewis Mukwada told delegates at the Zimbabwe Food Conference and Expo in Bulawayo on Friday that the quasi-government institution was efficient enough to transport maize from Zambia