Lusaka District Commissioner Ashell Kampengele has advised all retailers who have not yet reduced the Mealie Meal prices to do so or risk facing closure of their business premises.
The District Commissioner sounded the warning in Lusaka yesterday when he toured some retail outlets in Kabwata, Chilenje and Libala Markets of Lusaka district.
ZANIS reports that a check by the District Commissioner found that most retailers had not displayed the price of the commodity which is a clear indication that they had not reduced the price of the commodity.
Mr. Kampengele said any retailer found selling the stable food at a higher price than the recommended KR50 for breakfast Mealie Meal will have their shops closed.
He said it is sad that retailers have not adhered to the presidential directive of reducing the mealie meal prices in the city.
Mr. Kampengele has advised retailers not to purchase the commodity from wholesalers who are not selling at the recommended wholesale price because it is likely to increase the retail price.
He added that they should also have the courage to argue with the wholesalers on the price of the commodity than buying at a high price.
Mr. Kampengele said retailers should report any wholesaler who overcharges them to the relevant authorities for action.
Mr. Kampengele said it is not fair that traders have continued exploiting consumers by overcharging the prices of mealie meal.
He has further directed all councils in Lusaka District to closely monitor mealie Meal retailers in their respective Wards before the situation gets out of hand.
Meanwhile, the Zambezi residents in North Western province have appealed to government to intervene in the high price of mealie meal which is being sold at 85 kwacha rebased per 25kg bag.
A check by National Agricultural information Services-NAIS at Zambezi main market centre today found the dealers still selling a 10kg bag of mealie at 40 kwacha rebased while 25kg is pegged at 85 kwacha.
One of the residents Grievous Kamizhi bemoaned the high price of mealie meal saying after the president’s meeting with the millers recently other towns have reduced the commodity while Zambezi was still high.
”The mealie meal prices here in Zambezi is too much even after the president meeting the millers the commodity is still high as compared to other towns,” Kamizhi said.
And some millers talked to by NAIS said they have slightly reduced from 95 kwacha rebased to 85 kwacha because the order price was still high by that time.
Meanwhile, In Kabompo districts the situation is different where a 25 kg of breakfast is selling between 65 kwacha rebased and 75 kwacha while 10 kg is pegged at 35 kwacha.
The dealers interviewed by NAIS at Musamba market said they have reduced the commodity following presidents directive recently when he met millers last week.
But Kabompo residents expressed happiness with mealie meal prices and described it as fair adding that the price can still reduce further to allow middle income consumers to afford the commodity.
Rodger Chivunda and Ben Mwape who are both Musamba marketers appealed to the millers to be reasonable with the mealie meal price saying it is the staple food for all including the millers themselves.
And a survey conducted by NAIS in Zambezi and Kabompo black market discovered that a 50 kg bag of maize is being sold between 120 to 140 kwacha rebased.
I could not help it but feel for this man when I saw his mouth frothing and quivering as he issued baseless threats to the man he was talking to. As long as government does not provide full details behind the mealie meal pricing confusion, I will continue believing government has no case against the millers and traders as their pricing could be driven by market forces.
“Another careless threat from a careless follower of cnp. Go ahead and execute that threat because my shop will not run at a loss for the sake of keeping you leader laughing with popularity in statehouse.
If he is salivating for popularity ask him to subsidize my operations so i can meet the minimum wage requirements of my workers.” Zambian trader
CNP dont know cost accounting
If anything the best government can do is use the millers they are supplying the FRA maize to flood the market with cheaper mealie meal to bring down the price. I know it will be unfair to the other millers who are not getting FRA maize but it’s a more sensible way out for govt than issuing unwarranted threats to people engaged in genuine and decent businesses to earn a living.
pick and pay in kitwe is selling meali meal at K57.00 why? Let the law visit them while shoprite is at k47.00. infact the same bag must be at k20.00.
Safari suits are back
Who is expected to compensate retailers the difference between what they paid to get the current stock at a high cost price and the reduced dictated selling price? Is this DC going to foot the loss? Or this is not of their concern as long as mealie meal is being sold at their price? Politics
ati between120 & 140 kwacha per 25 kilogramu…
INDELOLESHAFYE
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