Zambia and Malawi Sign $77 Million Maize Export Deal Amid Regional Hunger

Zambia and Malawi Sign $77 Million Maize Export Deal Amid Regional Hunger

Zambia and Malawi have signed a maize export agreement worth US$77 million, a move the government says will strengthen regional food security and bring valuable foreign exchange  but not without sparking fresh debate over local food prices and transparency in agricultural exports.

The deal, sealed in Lusaka between Zambia’s Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and Malawi’s Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC), will see thousands of tonnes of Zambian maize supplied to Malawi in structured phases. Officials described the transaction as “a landmark in regional agricultural cooperation,” but opposition politicians and farmers’ groups are already questioning whether the export could tighten domestic grain supply.

Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri said the agreement underscores Zambia’s strength as a reliable grain producer and exporter. “This is a well-negotiated, mutually beneficial deal. Zambia can feed itself and still trade responsibly,” he said. He assured that the export would not threaten national food security, adding that the FRA had enough carryover stocks to maintain a comfortable buffer.

Phiri emphasised that the contract would help reduce excess grain in storage, stimulate local production, and boost foreign currency inflows. “Our farmers deserve fair access to regional markets, and this agreement gives them exactly that,” he said.

Malawi’s Agriculture Minister Sam Kawale hailed Zambia’s “solidarity and friendship” in signing the agreement, saying the supply will help his country manage grain shortages triggered by drought and erratic rainfall. “Zambia has once again shown regional leadership by standing with its neighbours in a time of need,” Kawale said during the signing ceremony.

However, some Zambian millers and consumer advocates have warned that exporting such large volumes could cause domestic prices for mealie meal to rise. The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) called for more clarity on how much maize would remain in local reserves after exports, while some traders accused the government of sidelining private exporters in favour of state institutions.

Opposition MPs in the National Assembly also questioned the transparency of the negotiations, arguing that Parliament should have been briefed before final approval. One legislator described the deal as “a secretive contract dressed in regional cooperation,” suggesting that the transaction might benefit a few politically connected suppliers.

The Food Reserve Agency has dismissed those fears, stating that the contract was conducted under standard procedures and that both governments agreed on open verification of shipment volumes and payment schedules. Officials from the Ministry of Commerce said the transaction will not affect FRA’s national security reserves, which currently stand at more than 1.2 million tonnes.

Economists, however, remain divided. Some view the deal as a strategic export success that cements Zambia’s role as a key regional food supplier, while others argue it exposes recurring contradictions in government policy — balancing between helping neighbours and protecting local consumers.

“This is diplomacy through maize,” said one Lusaka-based analyst. “It strengthens Zambia’s soft power in the region, but if the price of mealie meal goes up in January, the same deal could quickly become politically unpopular.”

The Ministry of Agriculture has pledged to monitor domestic stock levels closely and impose export limits if shortages appear. Officials say part of the proceeds from the deal will go toward improving storage facilities and irrigation schemes to boost resilience against drought.

For now, the government insists the agreement represents a win-win scenario. But with the farming season ahead and inflationary pressures still felt in households, the US$77 million maize deal may soon become another political test of whether Zambia can feed its neighbours without angering its own citizens.