by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – ZIMBABWEANS and senior academics have strongly rebuked South African agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo, accusing him of persistent, xenophobic, and factually inaccurate attacks on Zimbabwe’s agricultural resurgence.
Sihlobo has repeatedly questioned Zimbabwe’s historic reputation as “Africa’s breadbasket,” dismissing its achievements as overstated.
At the core of his critique, Sihlobo stated: “We must stop this ‘Zombie idea’ of Zimbabwe’s agriculture. Zimbabwe was never the breadbasket of Africa. Zimbabwe was a self-sufficient food producer until its land reform programme was instituted.”
His repeated statements, often aired publicly, have sparked widespread backlash on social media and from respected economists and commentators, many of whom labelled his narrative narrow, biased, and out of touch.
Critics were quick to call him out with Derick Kuün querying: “Why is this bothering you so much? They were self-sufficient and doing well until land grabs destroyed their economy.”
Man O’ War: “You’re obsessed with that country (Zimbabwe); how many times are you going to repeat this?” while Oliver Keith commented: “Of course, coming from a mindless neighbour (South Africa), we aren’t surprised.”
Dr Glen Meda belittled Sihlobo: “You are simply an agricultural economics graduate. Zimbabwe was called the breadbasket of Africa, and indeed it was, because it supplied maize, wheat, and processed foods regionally for decades!”
Andrew Duncan weighed in: “Zimbabwe produced more than enough for local consumption and exported the surplus. No food aid was needed, and no one starved between 1980 and 2000,” while Muchie Mangada bashes: “He disses Zimbabwe for clicks. The country has moved forward and is scoring huge achievements you cannot deny.”
Fabisch commented: “Stop obsessing… Accept these facts. Zimbabweans face xenophobia, and social media bias should not overshadow reality.”
Others highlighted the hypocrisy, noting that South Africa’s own agricultural strength is heavily powered by Zimbabwean farm managers, workers, and agro-specialists.
Zimbabwean professionals dominate South African commercial farms, helping ensure the country’s food security and efficient farm management.
This includes senior agronomists, irrigation experts, and management staff who run South Africa’s large-scale operations with high professionalism.
Contrary to Sihlobo’s repeated dismissals, Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector is experiencing a strong revival, anchored in real production gains, food security, and export potential.
Statistics show rgar in the 2024/5 season, Zimbabwe harvested 1.82 million tonnes of maize, 288,344 tonnes of Sorghum, 111,399 tonnes of Pearl millet, 23,376 tonnes of Finger millet and 622,141 tonnes of Winter wheat (surpassing national consumption of 360,000 tonnes),
In total, Zimbabwe produced 2.24 million tonnes of cereals in 2024–25, with over 58% of maize stocks retained to ensure national food security.
These figures confirm that Zimbabwe is not only self-sufficient but also strengthening its role as a regional food supplier.
Historically, Zimbabwe fed its own population while exporting maize, wheat, and processed foods to neighboring countries, including South Africa.
The country’s revival underscores that the “breadbasket” label was neither exaggeration nor myth. Today, Zimbabwe is producing a surplus while maintaining buffer stocks, demonstrating resilience, strategic planning, and a modernized agricultural approach.
Sihlobo’s repeated denigration of Zimbabwe’s agricultural history is increasingly untenable. His commentary is widely viewed as xenophobic and factually inaccurate, especially when weighed against Zimbabwe’s measurable gains.
Moreover, South Africa’s agricultural sector relies heavily on Zimbabwean expertise — from farm management to specialized agricultural professionals — highlighting the undeniable contribution of Zimbabweans to regional food security.
Zimbabwe’s agriculture is thriving once again. Questioning its status as Africa’s breadbasket now ignores both historical evidence and present reality.
— CAJ News