High Court Rejects Musarara Bid to Halt Grain Levies

The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), led by chairman Tafadzwa Musarara, has lost its urgent bid to stop Government’s grain import levy framework after the High Court struck the matter off the urgent roll, allowing authorities to continue implementing the measures backed by Treasury and agricultural stakeholders. In a ruling issued by the High Court Commercial Division in Harare under case number HCH435/26, Justice Lucy Mungwari ruled that the matter was “not urgent” and ordered that it be removed from the roll of urgent matters. The application had sought to challenge Government’s grain levy framework introduced under Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, which authorities say is aimed at protecting local farmers, financing irrigation infrastructure and reducing Zimbabwe’s dependence on imports.

The respondents in the matter included the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), the Ministers of Agriculture, Finance, Justice and Industry and Commerce, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) and the Attorney General. The court ruling represents a setback for GMAZ’s attempt to urgently halt implementation of the levy framework, which has continued receiving support from Treasury, farmer unions and Government officials. Fresh correspondence from the Ministry of Finance has also reinforced Government’s backing for the levy system under revised grain marketing arrangements for the 2025/26 summer season.

In a letter dated April 30, 2026, Finance Secretary George Guvamatanga endorsed continued application of levies and charges linked to grain imports under updated marketing arrangements designed to support local production and stabilise the agricultural sector. Treasury said pricing disparities between imported grain and locally produced commodities had significant implications for producer viability, import substitution and macro-economic stability. Government further designated the Agricultural Marketing Authority as the collecting agent for the levies, with revenues earmarked for farmer payments through the Grain Marketing Board and financing smallholder irrigation development programmes. Legal experts say the Government’s position is supported by the Agricultural Marketing Authority Act, which expressly empowers authorities to impose and collect levies in pursuit of agricultural development and food security objectives.