THE Government has directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to reduce the price of maize to millers from U$200 per tonne to U$160 in order to bring down the prices of mealie meal.
Mealie meal prices currently range between K43, 000 and K55, 000 for 25 kilogramme bag of breakfast and between K28, 000 and K43, 000 for roller meal.
Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha told journalists at Parliament buildings last evening that the reduction in the price of maize should result in reduced mealie meal prices.
The reduction means that a 50kilogramme bag of maize would now cost K40, 000 from the previous K50, 000.
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said the Government expected millers to bring down mealie meal prices to correspond with the reduction of maize prices.
“Government will also expect mealie meal traders to pass on the benefits of reduced prices to consumers.
“In addition, Government expects consumers to be vigilant and purchase mealie meal only from millers and traders who will reduce their mealie meal prices,” he said.
Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said the Government was also targeting the school feeding programme to benefit from the surplus maize stocks.
“Relevant Government wings will be tasked to ensure that millers do not engage in speculative activities including hoarding and reselling of stocks.
“The price of maize for trading and export will remain at $200 per tonne, therefore maize sold to millers at a reduced price should not be exported,” he said.
Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said that Government would continue to encourage the FRA and the private sector to export surplus maize in order to create space for the following harvest.
“So far indications are that the nation may enjoy another good crop this year which will pose a challenge on storage space if the surplus crop is not disposed of,” he said.
To date the FRA has exported about 200,000 tonnes of maize and the agency still has about 800,000 tonnes in storage.
In the last farming season, Zambia recorded a bumper harvest of 2.8 million tonnes while the country’s consumption was estimated at two million tonnes.
When contacted, Millers Association of Zambia chairperson Peter Cottan said he would comment over the matter after analysing Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s statement.
“It will be premature for me to give a comment before I analyse the statement that was issued by the minister,” Mr Cottan said.
[Times of Zambia]
Indeed government for the people by the people ,thank you for listerning to the cries of your people.
another mmd desperate campaign move, now we are waitng for fertilizer and fuel to be subsdised. donchi kubeba!!
Its Election year. Zambians the dribbling has just begun!
Can some expert explain to us who is covering the difference on $40?
Dinx, the tax payesrs ultimately. The Government really needs to put this maize scenario in order
No effect on us Zambians, i eat my NSHIMA every day, but you see the FUEL increase will offset all these Mealie Meal reduction as the Mealers will increase Mealie Meal as a result of increased transport costs.
Kaunda`s coupons are back in another form. It would be to subsidise inputs than consuption.That way you strengthen the industry. You have gotten it wrong mmd by taking us back to unip. 20 years backwards.
meant” it would be better”
You can cheat now but for how long?
That’s a good move, why should mealie meal be so expensive when we cultivate our own maize. All well meaning Zambians should appreciate this decision rather than connecting it to politics. This is a caring Government. I wish HH should just work with the MMD instead of this useless PF party run by a dictator. VIVA HH, RB.
AS WE HAVE SAID IT BEFORE, WE NEED A GOVT THAT WILL DO THINGS ABOVE POLICTICAL AMBITONS. WHAT WE SEE IN THIS GOVT IS ABSURD… THE LEADERS HAVE NO AGENDA OR ROAD MAP TO ANYTHING. WHAT THEY THINK TODAY CAN BE CHANGED TOMORROW,
ZAMBIA NEEDS A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY.. THAT WILL BE DRIVEN BY SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES COME COPPER OR NO COPPER…..IT SAD THAT THESE POLITICIANS THINKS ZAMBIANS ARE DULL OR SHALLOW MINDED.
AS MY FRIEND HAS SAID ABOVE , YOU CAN FOOL THE PEOPLE TODAY BUT YOU CANT FOOL THEM TOMMOROW.
LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN MPOROKOSO, KANYAMA , MUFUMBWEAND MANY PLACES…. SURELY DO WE NEED TO BLACKMAIL THE PEOPLE DURING THE ELECTIONS. IS DEVELOPMENT GOING TO COME ONLY DURING ELECTIONS….EMULATE THE AMERICANS, THE BRITONS POLITICS IF WE AREV GOING TO DEVELOP THIS RICH NATION
GOD BLESS!
There is always a starting point. Don’t you think so Voice of the Poor-Proverbs 31;8? So the listening Government has heard the cries of the Zambian people by facilitating the reduction of mealie meal prices. VIVA RB
MMD reduces trying ti reduce the price of meal meal in the midst of Price hike of fuel. It is mind boggling.
12 Are you this is a listening Government? Go for some medical examinations, I am sure you seriously need one.
A hard working Govenment will not spend tax payers money in order to continue to be in power, a working Gvment will just watch and wait and worries at all.
More nsima means more energy for PF cadres along the line of rail to do their campaign vigorously. Viva govt
There we go again. Agree with #13, how do you reduce in the midst of fuel price hikes. Everything will go up including production of mealie meal. Anyway I know where I will cast my vote and no lump of nshima will make me change my mind.
There we go again. Why wasnt this done sometime back when the talk of bumper harvest started. Agree with #13, how do you reduce in the midst of price hike of fuel? Anyway, I know where I will cast my vote and not even a lump of nshima will make me change my mind.
kwena e bupuba ubu ye! honestly you can as a president say fuel price increase is realistic while reducing the price of mealie meal is also realistic. guys, lets be serious and remove thiS rotten government . viva PF
Mmmmmm! I am failing to balance the equation here.This subsidy will eventually be paid by the peasant farmer because govt through FRA would set the floor price for maize this farming season k10,000 less what we had last marketing season.:-?
Can someone make me understand this equation: Fuel price up by K2,000=mealie meal price down by K10,000. Zoona, the ‘degree’ is working.
this is what has been killing the zambian economy. too much gov interference in business. this is what the chilubas were doing and this is what KK was doing. please let market forces determine the price of goods and services. even if the fuel price was going down gov should simply stay away from business. the may want to cushion suffering for whatever reason but its such policies that kill a country.
No logic bamambala….
There is nothing logical to PF cadres, so either ignore them or educate them. It is not very long ago (in fact maybe three weeks) when FRA exported some maize. It was stated then on LT that the export price of maize was lower than the ruling price in Zambia. PF cadres questioned why Zambia should “subsidise” the price of maize to foreigners instead of lowering the price for Zambians. Now the government has done just that, but read the comments from same PF cadres. Just what do you stand for, PF?
Let us eat the Maize/mealie meal but vote for PF/UPND pact
well well, wat economics. Maize floor price 65pin selling price 40pin. Directors at FRA paid heft salaries on tax payers money. No wonder we have craters on our roads. God heal our land.