Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga has described the on-going mealie–meal shortage in Kitwe as artificial and a ploy by some unscrupulous people and some millers to frustrate government efforts of developing the country.
Mr Kamanga said there is no way millers would claim to have no maize when the maize buying exercise in which they participated has just closed.
He said some millers were withholding maize thereby reducing their production which has resulted in the unavailability of the commodity on the market.
The District Commissioner charged that the act by the millers amounts to economic sabotage as it was likely to cause inflation.
He vowed that government will not rest until the situation is normalized and the people are able to by mealie-meal at an affordable price.
Mr Kamanga was speaking in Kitwe today after conducting an on the spot check on millers in Kitwe district.
The District Commissioner toured Mpongwe milling where he was assured that the production has now normalized after a break down on the plant which had stopped working in the past few days.
The Mpongwe Milling General Manager Riaan Rautenbach assured the District Commissioner that the milling company will increase its production as well as extend the production hours this weekend to avert the short.
Mr Rautenbach added that the milling company will also temporarily stop supplying mealie- meal out of the town until it meets the high demand in Kitwe.
And a check by ZANIS found that the company had huge stocks of mealie-meal and maize and the milling plant was working at full capacity.
Earlier, a check at Jamas Milling Company showed that the plant was working but the Executive Director John Cutois said the company did not have enough maize stocks for it to produce and supply enough mealie-meal on the market.
Mr Cutois claimed that the maize stock the milling company bought from the Food Reserve Agency finished in April and was currently buying from farmers outside the province who were selling at a higher price.
And at Olympic Milling Company, the company had very little stock of mealie-meal while a huge number of people were queuing up for the commodity.
However the depot Sales Manager Guido Basili said the company was operating at its usual capacity but it could not satisfy the local demand as it also had to supply to Ndola and Mufulira.
And at Antelope Milling outlet in Chimwemwe, there was no mealie-meal at all.
Kitwe has over the past one week been hit by a serious mealie-meal shortage, forcing the prices of the commodity to rise as high as K80,000 a 25kg bag in some retail shops.
There are also allegations that millers are supplying the commodity to the Democratic Republic of Congo where it is fetching higher.
ZANIS
What will grz do about the millers if that iz true
No bulling GRZ must own some millers that will participate in producing of mealie meal.
Fix them
It is the PF govt to blame.During RB’s time we had bumper harvests and US$3bn but now PF has to mismanaged both surpluses into deficits.Thats what you get for putting chimbokaila material who don’t even know how to run a kantemba into govt.
I think you are short sighted, I was in Kitwe in 2009 and 2010 and remember buying mealie meal at K68,000. The difference now is just that most Zambians have awakened from sleep and now everything can comment on the economy and politics even lay people without even thinking about it seriously.
the problem is with the millers,they never wanted to buy maize on the same price the govt was buying at coz they wanted to make more profit, now what they want is the government to supply maize to them on the same price the govt was buying at, which will be a big loss for the govt, the govt has to sell maize on a much higher price or export it for the FRA to pay the debt. in short if the govt decids to sell maize to millers they will do so on a high price which means prices of meali meal will never come down.
So how is this a problem with Millers? The system worked for MMD! Sata sold or rather gave away maize to Mugabe at below cost price rates last year – why put blame on the opposition now. Sata created the problem for FRA.
It’s really unfortunate the PF guys think Zambians are dull – and can be cheated over and over again. They forget or perhaps fail to realise MMD LOST, PF didn’t win, the election!
UNIP STYLe. The millers are running a business, however it’s the government responsibility to supply for it’s people. This government has the old system of leadership (UNiP style). Introduction of coins instead of moving forward with use of credit and cash cards as other developing nations. Now lining for food instead of internet shopping and let the food be delivered on your door step.
I’m not a politician but I think voters next time you go voting please vote for younger and creative minds not very old people who always take you back to where you started from. well for now PF honor up to your shortfalls don’t blame everything on other people just work hard to find solutions.
Poor thinking! At whatever price maize is bought, the Government subsidizes either millers or consumers. If as you say the millers are unhappy with the price of maize, then the balme is on the Government for failing to subsidise millers like what other govts have done. HH is justified to ask: Have you ever heard your President talk about policy?
imwe ba kapuli. look for solutions not finger pointing. it will not help you in way. PF thugs will never accept their mistakes .they will always find a way of running away from responsibility. if you know the people behind the mealie meal shortage’, why cant you arrest them? foolish government by for fools for good people
These PF morons have failed and they will continue to perform at their minimum levels until they are replaced by a responsible government. Food shortages, fuel shortages, non payment of farmers, the creation of unconstitutional multi-billion Kwacha office for the spoilled first lady, endless shopping sprees for this spoilled woman, mismanagement of government resources on parasites like judge Chikopa, unwarranted free donations of fuel to Sata’s girlfriend in Malawi and the nose dive of the currence ( Kwacha) against the US dollar and Sata ‘s misappropriations of public funds for his massive retirement home. These are some of the indications that this moron Sata and his clonies have indeed done Zambia a huge deservice and have reversed most of the gains the MMD built. Viva UNPD,viva HH
Stanyoko. Uba noko amalebe
You have respect for Dr Kaseba. She is a smart doctor. Is it UNPD or UPND? UPND will win may be in 2050 or there about. 2016 UPND will kiss the dust again. UPND is known in Southern. Where else are you known? There is shorgage of mealie meal in Kitwe but where else? It has already been fixed. For 44 years tell me who mismanaged the finances? So my bro stop halucinating thinking that you will form the next government. What did MMD bult? All the industries on the Copperbelt were and are closed by the MMD. If the MMD built something why is unemployment still high after 44 years. UPND and HH are still bitter because HH never expected Sata to win.
They BLAME the millers, the opposition, the Congolese – wow: voters take note!
Facker mwachepa sana. Watch the space.
Talk to B Y Mwila. I see him written all over this stink!
The solution is in Govt to restrict NOT stop export of mealie-meal and maize then offload the new crop to the millers while monitoring the millers production and distribution system and there pricing as they have agreed to sell at k45000 after receiving subsidised maize from FRA..There is great demand for the commodity as the region is hit by poverty…
The blame game and firefighting should stop. We are tired of these conspiracy theories each time we have shortages, be it fuel, mealie meal, fertiliser etc. Officials responsible should own up to their shortcomings and it would be good for a change for a minister to step down without waiting for the President to fire him or her.The district administration is a complete failure as it is not proactive and we have to get solutions from Lusaka each time there is a crisis at district level.Decentralisation is surely a long way off with this mediocrity at local level.
The buck stops at the president.
It is the Klown in State House who should be blamed. He is the one who appointed these none achievers largely on the basis of nepotism and tribalism.
If this govt does not trust the millers,then Sata can approach the post newspaper management so that they can go into milling business as well.
YOU SEE, PF IS MAKING A LOT OF MISTAKES. IMMEDIATELY, THEY OCCUPIED OFFICE THEY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF MMD CHAPS IN STRATEGIC AREAS SUCH AS EMBASSIES AND HIGH COMMISSIONS, JUDICIARY, FRA, HOSPITALS/MINISTRY OF HEALTH, ETC. IT’S COMMON SENSE. ALL THOSE MMD SYMPATHISERS ARE STILL IN GOVT AND PARASTATAL ORGANISATIONS AND FRUSTRATE ALL EFFORTS TO DEVELOP ZAMBIA. TAKE FOR INSTANCE EMBASSIES AND HCs. MMD ARE STILL THERE AND IN THE MAJORITY AND FRUSTRATE ALL EFFORTS OPENLY AND SECRETLY. EMPLOYERS ARE GANGING UP AGAINST MINIMUM WAGE. JUST RECENTLY, THEY LOST THE APPEAL CASE AGAINST MINIMUM WAGE AND YOU THINK THERE’S ANY WONDER THERE’S A SHORTAGE OF CON MEAL. PF PULL UP YOUR SOCKS OR OPPOSITION THEY PULL THEM UP FOR YOU.
@Peter
Why can’t you people be reasonable for a change? The changes you are talking have already taken place and this is the result. You can’t replace knowledge and experience with cadres. Political appointments should be replaced but not the general workers or civil servants. It is the leadership that stirs the ship but in the current setting, all PF appointments are busy enriching themselves while things are falling apart. How do you have people like Willie Nsanda as board chairman? What does he know to effectively move an organisation forward. It is suggestions like yours that is holding back the nation.
This is a deliberate pf move to make us equal with Zimbabwe!
These millers are a nuisance.
The mess has been noted. No need to waste time all we require is just sorting out the culprits
Elias, don’t look too far for the “unscrupulous people”, they are in cabinet led by HEMCS. These are the people who have failed to provide leadership on all economic fronts. Blaming others won’t help. If you think millers are squeezing the government why not set up a PF milling company since PF is interested in running party businesses?
Eat Rice and Potatoes mwebantu besu. Let the maize rot with the millers.
Do you really believe that the millers would withhold maize simply frustrate GRZ? Come on, who in business would forego profits in this manner? It’s total nonsense to shift blame on millers. We can all and have seen the dilemma unfolding with the mismanagement of FRA. GRZ trying to fix the maize price downwards..what do farmers do? They don’t get paid in time when the sell to FRA but paid cash when the Sell to millers or private briefcase boys who in turn sell to DRC. Who turns out to be the CNP? GRZ of course and now they want to blame the millers who are simply doing business in a free market economy…
Hahahahahaha, good idea am telling you.
THIS IS THE DOING OF PF AND NO ONE ELSE.
IF YOU CHECK THE SISTER ON LINE NEWS OF THE ZAMBIANWATCHDOG FOR 20th JANUARY 2012, THE AGRICULTURE MINISTER MR. CHENDA, SAID COS OF THE BUMPER HARVEST IN THE SEASON OF 2120 TO 2011 WHICH MMD LEFT THE PF GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO SELL MORE THAN A 1,000,000 TONS TO NEIGHBOURING ZIMBABWE, MOZAMBIQUE, NAMIBIA, CONGO, SOUTH AFRICA, BURUNDI, RWANDA AND OTHER. THIS IS WHAT HAS CREATED OUR SITUATION. THEY DID NOT SELL AS GOVERNMENT BUT AS PF INDIVIDUALS (GREED MEN). MAY BE TRY HH IN 2016.
So is it the millers or South Africa? Didn’t Guy Scott say that it was SA’s fault because they have stopped exports to the DRC and people have begun smuggling mealie meal from Zambia to Congo? If we are to believe the reasons for the shortage, at least be consistent in the reasons you give for your utmost failure to bring about the prosperity you promised you would over a year ago.
Farmers are still complaining of unpaid dues after selling maize on credit.. GRZ must own some millers while others be owned by private individuals. You can’t blame millers when you (gvt) has no milling company (ies).. GRZ, where is the good example you can give???
I THINK I SHALL VOTE FOR HH THIS TIME ROUND GOD WILLING IN 2016
Sata has taken you backwards. Never again put an illiterate bunkum in State House. These PF guys are of very low quality. Zambians scored an own goal in 2011.
Same UNIP rhetoric. What a shame in this time and age.
Hard to lead a country from a tree-top. Stop being monkeys.
Compare William Banda to Sata Ukwa, William is an angle.
All of us Zambians including myself are to blame, how could we in our right mind vote for a mentally retarded man in state house to preside over our critical national matters? I look forward for a time when Zambians will start been sober & objective. Indeed we put Sata to run our economy a man who has never run a Katemba before. Cry my beloved country becoz the worst of our country is yet to come. But the power to change/shape our future for the better is within ourselves. Viva a better Zambia we want!
I look forward for a time when this government will start taking responsibility of governing not always accusations to people who cant even defend themselves. Viva a better Zambia we need!
kekekeee…guys, but you rant ka!!!. Sata and PF are rulling whatever insult you pour on them. Please stop being bitter and frustrated, you have 4 more years to 2016. Reserve some energy for 2016 ranting for a win which will never come your side. Who does not know that some millers are not happy about the minimum wage? Who does not know that some section of society are finding it so difficult to dubiously gain from the FRA maize? These are the same people who are trying by any means possible to fan economic turmoil in the country. PF , please you must also act as a government, be above things.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
HH is the next Zambia president, come rain come sunshine!
So even the scarce rains they will blame the Congolese and opposition kekeke
Napapa sana! #13 Peter, above all the problems we have in our country, you want to start a witch hunt against MMD members and sympathisers, whom you want to lose their jobs and to have no livelihoods as if they are enemies of the country. If they cant work in Zambia and in Zambian missions abroad where do you think they will work. This country does not belong to MMD but neither does it belong to PF or any political party. A party elected into office is supposed to work with all and every Zambian, regardless of what Party they support. This is the meaning of a multi-party system. Please PF leaders stop the ignorance you are teaching your members. There are no jobs for PF members only in this country. There are only jobs for ALL Zambians.