Minister Steenhuisen welcomes the lifting of Zimbabwe maize import ban [SOUND]

# Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has welcomed the decision by Zimbabwean authorities to lift the ban on the importation of maize and other grains. The minister has described the move as a major step toward strengthening regional food security and economic cooperation. The department’s spokesperson, Joylene van Wyk, says the agricultural sector thrives on predictability and efficiency, and restrictive trade measures too often lead to market distortions that ultimately harm the consumer: