The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe filed an urgent legal challenge Wednesday to nullify a grain import levy regime [1].
The legal action targets a government regulation that millers say will increase the cost of a staple food. Because bread is a primary dietary component for millions of Zimbabweans, any increase in production costs typically results in immediate retail price hikes for consumers.
The association is asking the High Court in Harare to overturn Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025 [1]. The millers said the levy regime is unconstitutional and unlawful [1].
According to the filing, the current structure of the import levy creates an unsustainable financial burden on producers. The association said this burden is likely to cause significant increases in the price of bread [1].
By challenging the legality of the instrument, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe seeks to prevent the implementation of costs that would filter down to the general public. The group said the measure contradicts constitutional protections, and legal standards regarding trade and taxation [1].
The High Court will now determine if the statutory instrument complies with national law. If the court rules in favor of the millers, the levy may be suspended or scrapped entirely, potentially stabilizing the cost of wheat and maize imports used in bread production [1].
“The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe filed an urgent legal challenge Wednesday to nullify a grain import levy regime.”
This legal battle highlights the tension between government revenue collection through import levies and the necessity of maintaining affordable food prices in a volatile economy. If the court upholds the levy, the resulting price increases could exacerbate food insecurity and inflation for the average Zimbabwean household.
