CAPE TOWN, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- South African Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has welcomed Zimbabwe's decision to lift the ban on the importation of maize and other grains, calling it an important step toward economic stability and food security in the region.
In a statement on Wednesday, Steenhuisen said the policy change reflects a return to sound economic principles essential for the prosperity and stability of the Southern African region.
"This is an extremely welcome development that underscores the collective responsibility we share in ensuring food sufficiency," said the minister. "The agricultural sector thrives on predictability and efficiency, and restrictive trade measures, while sometimes intended to protect local producers, too often lead to market distortions that ultimately harm the consumer."
Steenhuisen noted that the lifting of the ban would help stabilize maize prices and support agribusiness investment across the region.
"By allowing the free flow of maize, particularly white maize that our people on the continent consume as a staple food, we are sending a clear signal of confidence to our agribusinesses and exporters, encouraging the investment and expanded production that benefits all in the Southern African Development Community member states," he said.
The South African Department of Agriculture said that it remains committed to collaborating with all regional partners to promote fair, open, and efficient trade in agricultural products, which it described as the cornerstone of sustainable growth and poverty alleviation in southern Africa. ■