Zambia to Export 200,000 Tonnes of Maize to Malawi as Regional Food Security Strengthens
Zambia and Malawi are moving quickly to operationalise a presidential agreement that will see 200,000 metric tonnes of maize exported to Malawi, reflecting growing cooperation on food security and regional resilience.
The announcement came during a meeting between Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, and his Malawian counterpart, Joseph Mwanamveka, MP, on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to expedite arrangements through relevant sector structures. This initiative follows a bilateral understanding reached between President Hakainde Hichilema and Malawian President Professor Arthur Mutharika during a recent summit.
Dr. Musokotwane shared Zambia’s recent experience confronting one of the country’s worst droughts in living memory during the 2023–2024 farming season.
“Through a Cabinet-led, coordinated approach, our goal was to ensure that no Zambian died of hunger,” said Dr. Musokotwane. “By realigning the national budget and securing partner support, we expanded social cash transfers, launched a ‘Cash for Work’ programme for vulnerable citizens, and implemented targeted relief that protected livelihoods across the country.”
Zambia’s national action plan, supported by a World Bank grant exceeding USD 200 million and additional partner funding, provided food and cash assistance to 1.6 million households in drought-affected districts. The response was coordinated by the Drought Disaster and Emergency Response Team in partnership with the UN, World Bank, and civil society organisations.
The two ministers agreed to convene an emergency inter-governmental meeting in Chipata, Zambia, in the coming days to finalise contractual, logistical, and policy arrangements for the maize exports.
“When our neighbours face difficulty, we stand together,” Dr. Musokotwane said. “Our experience reminds us that unity, preparedness, and compassion are as vital as rainfall itself.”
Hon. Mwanamveka expressed Malawi’s interest in continued engagement with Zambia on agricultural development, particularly in learning how Zambia swiftly reversed the food shortage effects of the drought into a historical bumper harvest.
