Mealie meal retailers in Luwingu district in the Northern Province have declared that they will not reduce the prices of the commodity despite the presidential order.
A survey carried by the District Commissioner, Mambwe Katontoka yesterday revealed that the price of mealie meal is still at K65, 000 (KR65) for break fast and K60, 000 (KR60) for roller meal respectively.
They said they will not reduce the price of mealie meal because they ordered the commodity from Lusaka where they incurred huge transport expenses.
The retailers told ZANIS that they recently reduced the mealie meal prices by K15, 000 KR15 from the previous K80, 000 (KR80) for break fast and K75, 000 (KR75) for roller meal respectively.
The shop owners added that they will not reduce any further despite the directive from the highest office in the land.
“Why are you defying the order from the President?” asked the District Commissioner.
They said that they were not just defying the order but they were considering the price at which they ordered the commodity which they described to have been exorbitantly high, but reaffirmed that the next consignment will be reduced in line with the Presidential directive.
They said reducing the mealie meal price for the sake of personal politics will not yield any fruits in Luwingu because the district has no millers to produce mealie meal and people depend on them who orders from Lusaka.
And Mrs Katontoka said that she will not take kindly to any mealie meal dealer who defies presidential directive in her district.
The visibly annoyed District Commissioner told the mealie meal dealers that it was impolite for them to behave in the manner they did because they had the obligation to give respect to the Head of State that they voted for.
She however said she will communicate to the provincial Permanent Secretary for an advice following the appeal from the dealers that they bought the commodity from Lusaka at higher price.
Meanwhile residents who stormed ZANIS to register their grievances over the high price of mealie meal in Luwingu have demanded that the District Commissioner should act quickly in line with the president directive to serve them from further exploitation.
They said it was disappointing to note that mealie meal dealers were merely exploiting consumers under the auspice of expensive order prices purported to have incurred while at the same time disregarding the presidential order.
President Michael Sata is on record to have warned millers selling a 25 kg bag of mealie meal at above K50, 000 that they risk having their licenses revoked.
ZANIS
PF is loosing popularity in there strong hold regions, ati “They said reducing the mealie meal price for the sake of personal politics will not yield any fruits in Luwingu” yaba ba mocha
Ba presido needs to understand the basic principles of economics ( demand & supply) you don’t just wake up and dictate prices of goods
U mean u guys cant make a mealing company? awe kuluwingu nako.
Will try make ours kwa nsombo
I agree with the retailers i mean its simple logical they ordered at K60 why should they sell at K50? let SATA compasate them for the loss in that case, the survival of the business depends on that small profit..
Presidential directives my Ass………….were on health have you heard that the market prices are supposed to be dictated? were is Bob Sichinga they self proclaimed economist to help his grade 5 brother in law on this matter please
health or earth ??
In your story you say the President has warned Millers not to sell above K50.00, now how does the DC expect the retailer who buys from Lusaka at K50.00 to sell at the same price.
Are you telling me that our schools are so bad that we are producing DCs who cant do simple arithmetic. What a shame
Ukwanomics! Sink Zambia sink!
SATA DOES NOT UNDERSTAND ECONOMICS THAIS WHY HE ODERS PEOPLE IN BUSINESS TO REDUCE THIER PRICES WITHOUT REALLY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION EXPENDITURES INCURRED BY THESE RETAILERS AND MILLERS ON JUST ONE BAG OF MEALIE MEAL SO HE IS JUST USING HIS UKWANOMICS.
Why can’t that District Commissioner just buy local cassava meal if she has no money to buy the Lusaka imported maize meal.
finish the old stock not negotiable how much time needed?who take care of logistical cost to luwingu if the price has to be maintained…govt be on top of all these issues and advise my presidua….
WHY ARE THEY COMPLAINING?IN FACT YOU MUST SELL IT AT EVEN LOWER THAN THAT.
DIDN’T THEY KNOW THAT SATA IS NOT VERSED WITH THE LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND,PRODUCTIONS COSTS,PROFIT AND LOSS.