The Grain Millers Association has dragged the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, the Attorney General of Zimbabwe and three holders of maize meal import permits and licences to the High Court on an urgent basis.
The millers seek for the Minister to immediately suspend the issuance of maize meal import permits.
In a new development to the battle to curb the influx of imported maize meal and wheat flour into the country, the millers have approached the High Court to force government to stop.
The association has also dragged to the High Court Rayclash Trading Private Limited, Benbound Investments Private Limited and Bhagaji Trading Private Limited.
In his founding affidavit placed before the High Court, Tafadzwa Musarara represented by Mupanga and Bhatasara Attorneys says local millers survive on selling their products locally and are prohibited by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development from exporting their products, particularly maize meal and flour.
He argues that the intrusion on the local market by finished foreign products diminishes the millers’ market share and competitive advantage.
The millers contend that the issuance of import permit / licences for maze meal is a breach of Section 68 of the constitution which protects the individual right to administrative conduct that is lawful, prompt, efficient, reasonable, proportionate, impartial and procedurally fair.
They wrap up by saying the issuance of permits will adversely affect the next season on contract farming, threatening livelihoods of those employed by millers.
To avert this imminent danger the applicant begs the court to grant as an interim relief an order directing the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development to suspend the issuance of import permits for maize meal and to cancel those already issued. ZBC
