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Mealie meal prices are unjustified, Tetamashimba

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MMD Spokesperson, Ben Tetamashimba, says the current high mealie meal prices are unjustified.

He told ZNBC news said that government feels the exorbitant prices are being instigated by persons opposed to the current administration.

Mr. Tetamashimba said government will not sit idle and watch Zambians go hungry because of selfish individuals.

Mr. Tetamashimba who is also Local Government Deputy Minister feels the high mealie meal prices may be a recipe for anarchy.

He also disclosed that President, Rupiah Banda, had a meeting with all the millers where it was resolved that the prices of mealie meal should be reduced.

Mr. Tetamashimba suggested that the price of roller meal should not exceed 50 thousand kwacha while that of breakfast must be arround 55 thousand kwacha.

Government has been called upon to deal ruthlessly with millers that are hoarding maize for profiteering and speculative motives aimed at embarrassing government.

And Forum for Leadership Search (FLS) Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo says the move has resulted in inflated prices of mealie meal at the expense of the citizenry.

Mr. Lifwekelo told ZANIS in Lusaka today that some millers are bent on causing an artificial shortage of the staple food for political expediency.

He said finding a lasting solution to the sky rocking mealie-meal prices calls for all stakeholders to work together to address the problem.

Mr. Lifwekelo urged critics to stop demonizing President Rupiah Banda over the escalating mealie-meal prices as the matter should not be politicized.

He said the price of mealie-meal has nothing to do with the President Banda’s campaign promises but urged stakeholders to give an opportunity to President Banda to provide leadership over the matter.

Mr. Lifwekelo  urged Zambians to be wary of leaders who are bent on alarming the nation.
ZANIS/KC/AM/ENDS

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

121 COMMENTS

  3. Well mr.tetamashimba, a good start would be for the new President to show his face and actually adress the nation, as no one has seen him since his super speedy inauguration.
    furthermore RB politicised maize when he used the maize prices and fertilisers to win votes. You are our so called leaders, sort it out!

  6. In what capacity is Tetamashimba defending the Government? Where on earth have we ever heard of a Local Govt Deputy Minister talking about Meali-meal Prices? Does he even know what he is suppose to be doing as Deputy Minister of Local Govt?

    He doesn’t seem to know his bounderies

    The chap is busy compaigning for presidency. Watch out Zambians

  8. I don’t think it’s only RB’s fault here but it’s the MMD’s as a whole, late president Mwanawasa included. imwe ba Edwin there is nothin artificial about the maize situation there. The FRA has already ran out of maize.

  10. …”He told ZNBC news said that government feels the exorbitant prices are being instigated by persons opposed to the current administration.”

    Countrymen therein lies the problem. A FEELING govt and not a THINKING govt. Governance by feelings. Decisions made based on feelings. Everything ni ma feeling. I feel Shakafuswa Method is working. Bravo RB!!! Bravo Teta!! Bravo Shakas Method. Feel them, feel them, and feeeeeeeelllll.

    RB and Coy will you for once stop feeling and start thinking. You are drowning our beloved country you sh*gg*sts. ee!

  12. 2 weeks in RB and his MMD UNIP coalition are already breaking their election promises.I am so suprised ( note the sarcasm).

  13. RB your lies are catching up on you…Kitwe pipo rioted this afternoon…zedians are not happy…we cant hav millimill prices shooting up like this …AM ALSO NOT HAPPY.umwana wangala kwiposo temwana iyoo!

  14. Ukutonta # 10 – Ala nautonta mune. The chaps dont know whats happening on the ground, kula feelin’ga fye ba mbuli! And if its true FRA has run out of Maize, surely what is this Govt thinking??? Someone’s been sleeping all this time letting the stocks run out completely in the process before awakening………

  15. #11 dont take this issue as a joke OK….a priest was arrested in Ktwe and all u kan do is joke abt the matter?its serious here in zed mwana….grow up ,wabetoole!

  18. Badboy #14, its true the stocks hav run out @ FRA.the govt was sleepin wen it was time to buy maize.the excuse they gave was that FRA daznt hav driers and the maize @ that time had high moisture content.
    But
    1.were did the same maize wit high moisture content go?
    2.and wat happened to the stocks after LPM’s bumper harvest?

  20. it was wild in kitwe fo sho, banks shops have been looted, well not the bank but some bank’s were stonned and all. zambeef was looted. national milling was looted also. it was wild.. we need change

  21. africa is synonymus with poor planning and management. RB was busy reducing the price of fataleza which has ended up on the black market.in the meantime, the maize stocks were almost gone. this is a country of jokers,, in the first place we declare a bumper harvest and export maize(cheaper) and then half thru the year we run outta food! 44yrs we dont even know our consuption figures for our staple food? pls, someone adopt meeeeeeeeeee!

  22. yes the kitwe riot was bad.38 pipo were arrested and others injured.pipo had to walk from town to homes(chimwemwe,kapoto,bulangililo,riverside…etc) on foot…coz all minibuses were hidden/not operating

  23. It’s sad to hear Teta speak like that when he owns a milling plant in the name of Mansa Milling. What is he trying to say to us?

  25. Ba Teta you justify your 55pin per 25kg price.

    Your are forgetting that b4 LPM died you(MMD govt) had allowed millers to buy maize from farmers. Millers have the right to sell as they wish. Free Economy.

    The govt has little say on the price of ubunga. The only intervetion is to give subsides to millers or consumers. Period. Not threats.

    Poor timing.

  27. Price of Maize is US$400 per ton multiply that by exchange rate a bag of maize is roughly 90 pin ZMK so Ba teta please just keep quite.
    Ba Kasai are also buying like there is no tomorrow and taking to Congo.

  28. #24 dog father I mean what I say, I remember trying to explain to you why Sata was my man (or maybe I was another cellphone that time) – or maybe you are a different dog father

  29. Where is leadership in zambia when you need one.? The prez is available to distribute sugar but missing in times of crisis, crying like a baby (crocodile tears or tears of joy)when we needed him to show strenghth in time of tragedy

  32. Mealie meal prices are being hiked by people against the govt-What a load of rubbish.What happened to the laws of the free market.Let this guy go back to the hole out of which he crawled out of.

  37. ok pipo..wats the way forward?
    Firstly whats RB’s email address?I seriously have some advise for him.His followers have failed him.they are all “Judas Iscariots” in some form or another.all those pipo around you RB nifi “muzungu wanga” ,fi “yes bwana yes bwana”,fi “kamucheka” all of them.

  38. what we need actually is a few hundreds, no lets say a few thousands of villagers to die of hunger then they will learn a lesson in survival of the fittest. periods of tragedy are always followed by periods of immense prosperity for those who survive. zambia are just too lazy. sex and beer is the only areas we do beta

  39. its simple economics, the govt is to blame. First, they impose a high floor price for maize to please those farmers, thus the millers pay a high price to get the maize.
    and we pay the price.

  41. mwazionela mweka,mwayiletelela ba Zed…u brot this onto yoselves by NOT voting MMD out…
    too greedy for power,u refused merging yo parties and this brot vote-splitting….mwaona manje?

  42. Reason why I wont go back! Ka Stella kuminwe. Uku notuma sausages. Fi Basati Rice fulu, fi Sphagett mbwe, ifi ma potatoes fyalimena just thrown them away.

    I am loving this.

  44. Dear Teta,
    Please never confuse your role as party spokesman to that of Government spokesman. You seem to be living in the old era of the party and its government ( UNIPIST ).

    Issue of Ubunga is not for you to comment on. Let your friends do the talking as well.

    You are operating as though you have no job description. Dont over expose yourself my dear. Bika Bola panshi. You seem to be aiming higher esp. with the looming press conference by your boss.

  45. 38. Insider..ha ha uv made my day…thats Zambia for you..one step forward 1000 steps back.What we should just wait for now is the second coming of Christ…them we will be liberated.

  46. Those in the UK happy hour guys. I am going now. Stella mbona! I painti half price! Lekeni balefwafye ififine ku Zed.

    Nakubabufi balebepa. Thought one of them said Zambia will not be affected in the run up to elections?

  47. #42 shame on you….do u even hav a family?…I pray that someone deports you from there…u are jst squatting there mwana,nikwabeene uko.

  50. I can’t believe you guys… When the govt keeps quiet, ati you are not acting. Bakamba, ati mwakamba bwaji. What do you want imwe bantu?

    Go and lima yourself and make money. Why are you always on the losing side? Jumpkani

  51. But zowona our government is run by dogs(ba galu na michila ku matako), you sold your maize at a cheap price to Zimbabwe and now you’ll be forced to import from US or canada because south africa’s white non GMO has also ran out.

  55. #47 Got a maroon passport mate! Burnt the black one. I am not like you. Hope those villagers come knocking on your door asking for more sugar when they run out of what they were given by your president.

    It is only in Africa presdents go round “donating” when it is election time. Wake up tool!

  59. It’s obvious, export all the maize so we can say “look at our good policies”, then it get finish, say to the donors “we need assistance because of our good policies”, then the donors give the relief maize, and they say to the people “look we have all this maize and all because of our good policies”. As usual

  61. @ 50

    From what i can see, people are taking exception to this statement because this guy isnt even the Minister of Agriculture, and the government are blaming the opposition ( without factual proof, just feelings)instead of acting statesman like and giving us proper solutions!

    3 weeks ago they were guranteeing that maize prices would stay down to secure votes now they are changing their tune!

  64. #58 would rather be kuwe than a clever man like you. You will huff and puff in that country, nothing will change. Aha!

    Why are you swearing? Something you gorw up with? Not surprised. I will not swear at you. Too smart for that mate. I never swear.

    I will tell you something, it is a case of “if you cannot beat them, join them”. I did not want to join them hence the reason why I opted for maroon passport.

  67. #64 good luck my brother…sorry for coming out @ u…i think i will just join you.
    I give u respect man(or are u a lady)?

  70. 55 Anonymous is an asylum seeker he lied to the authorities that he is gay and that if he goes back to zambia he will be stoned to death.
    I bet he is one of those alcoholic chaps who relies on social services to exist..

  71. Annoymous , you should be banned and you are a total disgrace. Zambia is where you come from respect it. If you dont and are proud of your marron passport, you should be hanged. Wish i was near to enlight yout limited judgement

    Seriously either you are young (mentally) or you need mental help. I think its the later.

  73. #71 I think that’s a bit extreme, I’m sure you have relatives who have emigrated in search of gainful employment since the same is not available in Zambia

  75. It is not the govt which brings the price of Mealie Meal down but the market forces, all what the does is to create enabling environment to produce enough. Therefore, the MDD has failed and Nyama Soya shud HH how best to produce enough maize. VIVA HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

  77. THE POWER OF THE TONGUE! WORSE WHEN IT IS A COBRA’S TONGUE. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THAT SATA THREATENED TO MAKE THE COUNTRY UNGOVERNABLE IF HE LOST THE ELECTION? THERE IT IS NOW! NOW HE SAYS THAT HIS PEOPLE SHOULD HOLD THEIR PEACE. JULY 1989 IS ON US ONCE AGAIN. PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH MEDIA SHOULD BE CAREFUL WITH STATEMENTS THEY MAKE THAT CAN INCITE PEOPLE TO VIOLENCE. THERE IS NO PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT ARE DOCILE AS PEOPLE USUALLY INCINUATE ABOUT ZAMBIANS. WHAT HAS BEEN MISSING IS THE SPARK TO SET EVERYTHING ALIGHT. SATA MAY BE THAT SPARK.

  78. MEALIE MEAL PRICES! WE KICKED OUT SOCIALISM AND A COMMAND ECONOMY TO LIBERATE THE MARKET SO WHY ARE WE COMPLAINING? THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO A SIMPLE THING. BYPASS THE MILLERS. IMPORT CHEAPER MEALIE MEAL FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND FLOOD THE MARKET TO FORCE DOWN THE PRICES. THEN WE WILL SEE WHO WILL BE THE LAST MAN STANDING.

  79. #70 I came to the UK when fuel was 22p a litre google it! Thanks for the insults. Only confirms you are Zambian let alone African. Never changing! lol!

    #71 I was born in Zambia yes but I do not owe Zambia anything. Grow up and adjust. Arnie in America was born in Austria.

    Both of you should see my point. Why should a president donate when it is election time. Look he has now gone to sleep and ended up missing his flight! lol! Look at the promises MMD made and come back to me. For now jog on!

  80. Impressive news D.Minister Tentamashimba.However, please kindly ask president Hakainde Hichilema to help President RB Banda on how to save the Zambian People from Starvation. Why should Zambians die from hunger when opposition HH has the solution to Zambian’s problems. I am sure the HH will not refuse to give you and GRZ a remedy to this problem free of charge since his way of life now is service to the Zambian People without seeking any form of compensation in salary or allowances as he has already made Billion of Kwacha for his family through Businesses.Pride will not fed the Zambian starving masses.When pupil’s performing badly, the quickest remedy is ask 4help from those who know better.

  81. The riot in kitwe is the beginning of anarchy.Bear with me fellow zambians we are landlocked country.DRC congo is at civil war & zimbabwe is about to start where are u going to run.Goma is littered with corpses.The devil u know is better than the angel u ve never seen.m/meal & leadership shud be checked precisely.

  82. Chi Tetamashimba big mouth.Just reduce dont make Noise wre there is no substance. This man has even offered himself to compaign for RB should he decide to stand in 2011. These parasites shame on them.

  86. I was made to understand that before the elections, the price of maize went up to appease farmers both peasant and commercial (Rural voters, remember!).If these prices were inflated for political reasons to win an election, the struggle now is to bring the price down unless you have a subside to give to millers to cover the loss they are likely to incur if the price goes down. Without this subside (money was diverted to campaigning mind you)in NO way will the millers reduce the price of maize. I’m speculating as am not home to read all the papers and comments from key stakeholders to this game. Sad RB has no solution for something he allowed just to gain votes. Ukaimba ng’oma,ziba ngule

  88. # 79 even Zambia does not owe you anything so please stay out of Zambia’s issues. You are a disappointment. I am sure you failed to make in Zed… What a waste…

  89. STATEMENTS FROM MINISTERS–IS OUR PRESIDENT THERE,IS HE AROUND.

    SOMETIMES WHEN I SIT DOWN I MISS LATE LEVY–THOUGH THE NATION DID NOT APPRECIATE HIM MUCH HE WAS A LEADER FOR THE PEOPLE.

    HIS LEGACY IS GONE WITH HIM-NO ONE OF THE LIKES OF RB CAN MAINTAIN IT.
    NO STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT SINCE ELECTED,IS HE ON HONEYMOON.

    REMEMBER I’AM NOT AFFILIATED TO ANY POLITICAL PARTY BUT THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND-A PRESIDENT THAT MOUNTS TENSIONS IN THE COUNTRY-WHAT DO I MEAN:
    1.TENSIONS IN PARLIAMENT BY SIMPLY NOT TELLING US HIS VEEP
    2.INCRESING PURCHASE PRICE FOR MAIZE SO THAT MEALIE MEAL GOES UP
    COME ON RB OUR PRESIDENT AS AT NOW-SPEAK OUT OR SIMPLY TELL US YOU NOT INTERESTED TO BE PRES

  90. Did you know that Zimbabweans no longer send money to Zim through services such as Western Union. Money taifika, ipwilafye mu Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe elyo abena Bob bayakana na Dr Wabufi Gono. Na paZed yalakakana nombaline.

  91. “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it” – Upton Sinclair

  92. #88 Thank God I did not hack it! Why don`t you look at all my posts than trying to be a big time Charlie?

    Come back to me after UTH has running water in the wards. The last time I checked patients were bringing their own from home you tool! Grow up and stop being a wum.

  93. I’d say the same about RB’s being in state house – UNJUSTIFIED.
    And the same about Toadface sleeping in state house while the poor villagers are starving – UNJUSTIFIED.

  94. LT: Breaking news: VJ is the new Chief Whip. Cat of nine lives? Dejavu!! is anyone out there stillin doubt that Banda is taking the country backwards, and not forward? How can he possibly claim to continue Mwanawasa’s legacy when he is surrounding himself with everyone Mwanawasa had dismissed!!

  95. Nkani yalula bayamba kugwila kuntongo mange.What of the poor guyz in the Ghetto .How much will be Pemela?…2five or 3pin.Levy had respect for the melie meal.Maybe RB dozed off and found that someone has hicked the price of melie meal.
    Tiza yamba kunvelako chabe…

  96. Ine abo ba BEN TENTAMASHIMBA, to me he hasnt any qualities of leadership he is just an oppotunists.I almost had a quarrel with him because his bootlicking manners.

    We need fresh guyz in 2010 election youths be focused,Humphrey Siulapwa is not seroius we need to indetify seroius focus youths.there should be a OBAMA down there too.

    Hey Muvi TV can you start a programme now race to plot one.for people under 40.Hakahinde qualifies ..we acn do it

  97. poseni ififisoso ba RB tena,mlongoti.shikapono and mpombo ababachabechabe,fipuba especially tente ena mukanwa mwalibola muchoseni or bazachosa imwe manje manje.No leaership qualities worse still ministerial material big zero.savages those are.

  98. Teta, has mansa Milling, how much is he selling the same. He should not lie. MMD if you free Chiluba from his cases, you fail to convict him quickly and you decide to pardon him then. Country men we bring down this Government. period.

  99. Has anyone asked TETAMASHIMBA how much his MANSA MEALING is selling mealie meal at. Lowest price in Mansa is 80pin. Let TETA reduce his price as an example.

  100. cosmas mwaba (joondalup Australia)
    RB is a shame and the his goverment is a disgress,Zambians are suffering because of lack of leaders in key positions.Rb has no capacity to run the nation and belive me more problems are coming zambias way. Yes Zambia is back to the old UNIP way may God govern zambia and not the hypocrits that we have as leaders,lets wake up and vote wisely next time zambia.Ala ba RB you have not capacity to run zambia and if levy was alive he wouldnt have chosen you to rule.

  102. Teta thinks he is the president of this country. Dont just talk s**t act man. A bag of mealie meal is not even suppose to be K50 pin, it should be less than K 30 pin.

  103. ba teta said on MUVI TV that the prices of Mealie Meal would by reduced by Friday (today). So why is he still complaining. TOday is Friday. This was said during the Issue at Hand presented by Mr. Costa Mwansa. ANyway the day is still young lets wait and see if he keeps his promise.

    Mongu residents how true is it that you are now buying a 25 kg of m.meal at K80,000.00 Bf and K75,000 RM

  104. Tete, just shut your tape worm like overdose malnutrition red lipped mouth. If there is something I can predict about Teta….he always does not know what he talks about.

  105. Only recently the government has increased the flow price of maize from K45,000 to K55,000. How do you expected the price to Go down when on of the raw materials has increased by 22% or so. They are reaping what they sowed.

  106. Teta and his MMD chaps has even stopped eating nshima so what will GRZ do on the price of Mealie Meal.
    Get to rice concept Zedian please.

    Viva H H prices will drop and Zed economy will be perfect

  107. Tetamashimba unscrupulously bought a milling plant in Mansa early this year. The BIG question is ‘how much is his brand selling at?’

    Event the talk of 52-53pin per bag is nonsense. Not everyone can afford such exorbitant prices. Is this what Rupiah and his comrades from the UNIP era have always contemplated to do against us? If only we had a way…

  108. Maize is our staple food. Politics of food secuirty is very important and any politician worthy his/her salt must address the price of mealie meal.If RB does not address the issue of ever rising prices of mealie meal,then someone else other than SATA should come in to rescue us from dying of hunger.
    Viva ubunga uba cheaper!

  112. Rice not our staple food and it does not last longer in the stomach. we want nshima so ways should just be found to reduce mealie meal to reduce the price of mealie meal.

  113. KK knows what mealie meal price hike can do to the grz. Am surprised he has failed to advise the the President. For you too young to know let me tell you what happened in the mid 1980s. KK upped the MM cost and Zambia went beserk forcing KK to start giving MM free to miners and by coupons to non miners.In bemba we say uwikuite asontela ubwali kukanwa ati ubo

  114. #96. your flag NKANI YAMU KACHASU, I second your point on “Hey Muvi TV can you start a programme now race to plot one.for people under 40.Haka(h)inde qualifies ..we acn do it”.

    I also ask MUVITV to expand its broadcast territory to beyond Lusaka and surrounding areas.

    There is need too for other individuals or companies to set up TV broadcasting initiatives in other towns of Zambia to enable viewers see things in a better light.

  118. Let Teta ask his milling to sell the m/meal @ K10,000 if he really cares.dont just stand infront of cameras as if you talk sense to the pipo of Zambia.
    Because its only the minority zambians who can hear you on both Radio & Television my poor grandmother/father,sisters & brothers in deep rural zambia can’t hear you so atleast if you brought the m/meal price then they can know that you care.
    pakamwa monga ukumwa soup!!!!shame.
    show action if you care.

  120. Lets forgive Hon Teta, he has forgotten that he is miller with a plant in Mansa.

    I hope he will not confuse his role as Min Local Govt to that of Information

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