Pretoria: The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has welcomed the decision by Zimbabwean authorities to lift the ban on the importation of maize and other grains, as gazetted under the new Statutory Instrument (SI) 87 of 2025.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister hailed the move as a return to sound economic principles that are essential for the prosperity and stability of the Southern African region. Steenhuisen noted that exports help stabilize local prices and emphasized the importance of the Zimbabwean market for both white and yellow maize.

“This is an extremely welcome development that underscores the collective responsibility we share in ensuring food sufficiency. 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 stated.

The formal removal of the ban is crucial for food security and consumer welfare across the region. By allowing the free flow of maize, particularly white maize, which is a staple food on the continent, the move signals confidence to agribusinesses and exporters. This encourages investment and expanded production that benefits all in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States. Steenhuisen highlighted that this decision strengthens regional integration and ensures that surplus-producing nations can readily meet the needs of their neighbors.