The Indigenous Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe has defended the Government's grain import levy framework introduced under Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, arguing that the policy is necessary to protect local farmers, safeguard the gains of the Land Reform Programme, strengthen food security and advance Zimbabwe's industrialisation agenda.

In a statement issued on Thursday, IGMAZ criticised ongoing opposition to the levies by the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, which recently threatened legal action seeking to nullify the regulations on the grounds that they are unconstitutional and would increase the cost of basic commodities.

IGMAZ said continued reliance on imports threatens the country's economic sovereignty and undermines the objectives of the Land Reform Programme.

"We wish to state categorically that if Zimbabwe fails to protect indigenous farmers and local producers, then the country risks reversing the gains of the Land Reform Programme and surrendering national economic sovereignty to foreign producers and import cartels," the association said.

"The Land Reform Programme was not merely about land ownership. It was about empowering indigenous Zimbabweans to produce, industrialise and control national value chains."

The association warned against the danger of Zimbabwe becoming a "supermarket economy" that depends on imported goods while local agriculture and industry are weakened.

IGMAZ said the Government's policy direction under Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025 aligns with broader national objectives under NDS1, NDS2 and Vision 2030 to stimulate domestic production and reduce import dependence.

"We therefore fully support the Government's policy direction under Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, which seeks to promote local grain production, strengthen food security, finance irrigation infrastructure and reduce dependence on imports," the statement said.

The association also argued that proceeds from the levies are already being channelled towards irrigation development and agricultural infrastructure aimed at improving climate resilience and boosting local output.

The latest intervention comes as legal experts maintain that the minister responsible for agriculture is empowered under the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) Act to impose such levies.

One senior legal expert familiar with the legislation said the Act explicitly authorises the Government to collect levies in pursuit of agricultural development and food security objectives.

"The AMA Act is very clear on the mandate and purpose of the statute and, in the preamble, it states, among other things, that it seeks 'to provide for the imposition and collection of levies on producers, buyers and processors of agricultural products; to provide for the administration and disbursement of moneys from the Fund'," the expert said.

"It therefore goes without saying that the Minister is empowered to impose the levies, as he has rightfully done in this case."

The expert added that the levies form part of a broader policy framework designed to stabilise domestic agriculture, protect local producers and finance infrastructure critical to national food security.

GMAZ has argued that the levies will trigger increases in the prices of bread, mealie meal and other basic commodities. However, supporters of the framework contend that the measures are necessary to reduce Zimbabwe's growing dependence on imports and support long-term domestic production capacity.

IGMAZ urged the Government to remain firm in defending local production and protecting indigenous farmers.

"The future of Zimbabwe lies in production, value addition and self-sufficiency, not permanent dependence on imports," the association said.