Zimbabwe left with 8 month maize stock, says Chinamasa

Zimbabwe is only left with eight months supply of maize, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.

Chinamasa said this while presenting his Mid-year monetary review policy in parliament today.

"Our maize stocks will last up to April 2017, that is 8 months worth of supply",  Chinamasa said.

Close to four million people are in urgent need of food aid.

International relief organizations are assisting government source food.

He added that the expected maize output of 511 000 metric tonnes  for the 2015/2016 season could be the lowest in the past 24 years.

The minister said the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) is  buying maize at $390 vs $250 by private buyers.

On compensating white commercial farmers, he said $42.7million has been paid out for the land acquired through the Land reform Program

"As of today we are not owing farmers any money, we have cleared our arrears," Chinamasa said.