January 30, 2008

HARARE, Zimbabwe – The last time we reported on the situation in Zimbabwe, it was to tell you that starving people there had turned to eating dogs for survival – not a common act for African cultures.

A report by Scottish Today revealed that the country's grain is being used to produce high-end dog food.

Production of the food, called 'Doggy's Delight,' is controlled by the government run Grain Marketing Board (GMB). Officials there say the operation is “full throttle,” remarking that the product has been well received in foreign markets. It is estimated that (1,342,000 pounds) of corn and wheat have been allocated to making the pet chow.

Incidentally, grain is the main ingredient in a food supplement called Maize-meal, which could feed the nation's 12 million people.

But the country's farmers are only allowed to sell their grain to the GMB. It's a divisive move, but government leaders say it is aimed at lifting the country out of crisis. By controlling all the grain, they can ensure that the largest quantity of Doggy's Delight is being produced.

Still, three million Zimbabweans rely on international aid for food. Government leaders hope to decrease that number by providing their own aid with profits from exports of Doggy Delights – eventually. It will take time for the profits to trickle down.

Meanwhile, Zimbabweans must eat their dogs to keep from dying - because the grains that should be feeding them are being turned into Doggy's Delight.

But what if demand for Doggy's Delight wanes? Based on market research for 2007, the number of people buying pets is slowing. However, those owners appear to be indulging their pets at a steadily increasing rate. One of the first areas they indulge in is pet food.

To capitalize on the popularity of the Doggy Delight brand, the GMB announced at the new year that it plans to expand production into the stock-feed market for other animals.

The country reached a new level of economic crisis over the summer, when a debacle led by President Robert Mugabe drove inflation to nearly 8,000 percent, leaving Zimbabweans unable to buy food.

However, the money-strapped country is relying heavily on exports to recover from the financial downfall it's facing. In the past, grain farmers have complained about the requirement to sell to the GMB, stating their prices are too low.

Still, with no foreseeable end to the economic drought, Doggy's Delight is a strand in the thread by which Zimbabwe is hanging on to.

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