A survey by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection shows that demand for small unit repackaged mealie meal popularly known as Pamela has increased in peri-urban areas following the rise in mealie meal prices.
JCTR says the demand for Pamela is indicative of the systemic increase in the number of families living from hand-to-mouth in peri-urban areas.
It says local mealie meal traders justify the high prices on grounds that millers have not reduced the wholesale price despite government intervention.
JCRT said during the month of March, the price of breakfast mealie meal sharply increased from K68 to over K82.00 per 25kg bag in some parts of the country making it difficult for many to access the commodity.
In a statement, JCRT says the high cost of mealie meal is very saddening and alarming especially for a country whose staple food is maize.
“The increasing systematic exclusion of families in accessing a 25 Kg bag of maize meal has been compounded by the reality that over 60% of the population is living in absolute poverty and depends heavily on maize and maize supplements for their dietary needs. Further, it has been observed that the price of mealie meal remains high despite the various interventions by the government,’ it said.
It added, “The free falling Kwacha has also contributed to the high cost of mealie meal due to the increase in the cost of importation of production related inputs needed by millers. This has adversely affected people’s livelihoods and coping capabilities as it inadvertently pushes up the cost of production of goods and services thereby making the cost of goods and services beyond reach of ordinary citizens.”
JCTR stated that the cost of living has generally increased owing partly to the fact that key accounts of inflation which include prices of basic food items and non-food items have continued rising.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) Report, The Monthly for the month of March affirms that annual food inflation has risen by 0.1 percentage point from 7.5 % to 7.6% while non-food inflation rate has increased by the same rate from 7.7% to 7.8% from February to March 2014.
“This simply means that there is an upward thrust on the average prices of goods and services particularly over the first quarter of 2014 as evidenced by both the rising cost of Basic Needs Basket (BNB) and the CSO Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the months of February and March 2014,” JCTR says.
The organisation says it is concerned with the rising cost of living due to its adverse effects on majority of the citizens as evidenced by the failure of some families to meet the cost of a 25Kg bag of maize meal.
“On a general scale, the cost of living for the month of March 2014 as measured by the JCTR’s Basic Needs Basket for an average family of five living in Lusaka stood at K 3,687.72. This reflects an increase of K71.44 compared to the month of February 2014 when the basic needs basket stood at K3, 616.28. The increase is mainly due to the rise in the cost of Mealie meal. However, there has been a minimal decrease in the price of beef from K30.58 to K29.36 per Kilogramme which translates into a net decrease of K1.22.”
It added, “Conversely, during the month under review, the price of onion, due to the commodity’s season induced scarcity is showing an upward price trend from K6.12 to K8.78 per Kilogramme.”
JCTR has since called on government to intervene, both in the medium and long term, in the rising cost of mealie meal bearing in mind that Maize pricing is overtly over-sensitive to market forces and weather patterns.
“Further, the JCTR urges the government to ensure that the price of mealie meal should not increase any further as it will adversely affect and exacerbate the already eroded coping capabilities of the majority of Zambians who depend on this staple food and often have very limited escape opportunities from the poverty trap.”
He added, “Additionally, we urge the government to ensure a stable macro-economic environment buttressed on consistent and sound economic policies rather than political imperatives. We also add that the depreciation of the Kwacha must be squarely addressed as millers are transferring the cost to the consumers.”
People just diversify your diets!!
Ugali, papu, nshima is the curse of Zambians.
When is our rice and potato farmers going to be rewarded for their hard work when all we eat is ubwali.
Malawi, Tanzania, Botswana, RSA, Namibia all have rice and potatoes as staple foods.
I like nshima but during the last 15 years I have never bought mealie meal. I grow my own maize. So those who die to have nshima should grow their own maize. 20 bags is enough to see them through the year.
HRH that is a topic for another day.The point is that PF failure is manifesting within 2 years of ruling and the price of mealie meal is just one aspect.
@Jay Jay, I hope you send your parents money to buy spaghetti and chapatti. Awe sure kulibwenesha Taa
how do u eat nshima everyday!!! i never used to eat like that even when i was a monk at unza!!There are many ways to have a balanced diet.This is tragic!!!
@Nostradamus
ekekekekekekekekekekekek!
and how do these people call a small mealie meal pack Pamela,,, why not call it by a male name,,,,,,, gender issues there mwe!
@ndobo, that is a point actually. How about ka Peter?
@ Jay Jay and your kind. Let’s not be shallow in our debates and reasoning over serious life matters. The simple question for you is how much is a bag of potatoes and how many people can it feed and for how long? While you can enjoy the luxuries of spaghetti, rice and potatoes the majority Zambians can’t, and it’s foolhardy of you and your kind to ignore and mock their plight.
We warned you that you were voting for a F.O.O.L who has no clue…. did you not insult us?
I am actually loving it because an hungry man is a wise voter
@Ndobo, kekekeke naine nachidabwa I thought what’s up with Pamela Chisanga again
We are kicking out Sata’s tribal government.
I doubt bwana whether you have the faintest idea on govt officers are appointed.
The qualification is loyalty and not tribal balancing per se.
Remeber when Sata floated his name for the presidency all you educated guys thought he was a joker. No one wanted to associate with a joker. fortunately Sata has become the best Presidents who ever ruled Zambia. At least ask the EU or the USA.
Sata appointed cabinet from people who supported him through and through. Kabimba, Scott, Masebo, Chitika, Simusa, Lungu, Simbyakula, Phiri,
You guys hate Sata like death. But why do you want him to appoint you Ministers? Does a President appoint any person he finds in the street just because…….?
HRH, one thing has not changed, Sata may be president but he is still a joker and an unfunny one at that.
@dudelove, joker was first past the post. That has implications on what RB’s lawyer called Zambians, I suppose.
We are slowly going back to the days of inflation.jay jay uli kapuba sana,how can one diversify a diet which isnot there in the first place?
Elizabeth Chitika said Chiluba said it in 2001 that i can’t give the Presidency to Sata; “teti asunge abantu, kuntu abapatanya” and here we are.
I am very upset that innocent citizens are being harassed just for belonging to a different party. Chili ndwii mu state house and very primitive as usual. wake up and start leading, iwe chi Sata. Say something about the violence. Also there is a provision for resigning in your contract in case you are not aware.
This is a sign that PF is working. Good for the poor as their govt is pro-poor, more money in the pockets of the poor. Subsides for maize was benefiting the rich, less money in the pockets of the rich with the increase in the price of the pamela, ironic right? That is the economic phenomenon of man of action.
I rushed thinking the story is about Pamela Chisanga is on demand again.
And you discovered it was a far complex story for your simpleton mind to process.
Can’t the manufacturers of mealie meal in Zambia find a proper name for the so called ‘Breakfast’ meal. It sends a wrong picture to consumers. Especially if it had to be exported overseas. Most people would take it that it is only for use at breakfast in the morning. Anyway, Zambia does not export maize meal to overseas. Maybe we shouldn’t worry about the name.
Can someone or family members remind KK that he is out of touch with reality and that these comments they make to try and make Sata and his PF look good will not do it this time. we are cleverer than that. The real indicator is food on the table and that is what us the masses will remember when time to vote comes in 2016.
You have been cleverer after EVERY election! Makes me wonder at the state and quality of the electorate…
how do u eat nshima everyday!!! i never used to eat like that even when i was a monk at unza!!There are many ways to have a balanced diet.This is tragic!!!
People don’t just see it. ..we are just one bad harvest from disaster with this dependence.
Paying for your silly voting, sad but fact.
Only a few of sata’s trribesmen are still clinging onto the boat…..its capsising!! boeing 707 sinking in tanganyika…Very soon Zambia will have economic freedom with H.H…….HALEISA .,,HALEISA