Thursday, March 28, 2024

President Lungu threatens to Nationalise Milling Plants and Introduce Price Controls on Mealie Meal

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President Lungu addresses Chambishi residents after a tour of the market on Monday, Novermber 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
President Lungu addresses Chambishi residents after a tour of the market on Monday, Novermber 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA

President EDGAR LUNGU has warned that Government will be compelled to introduce statutory price controls if Millers continue exploiting consumers. The President has further warned that Government might be forced to repossess milling plants or eject milling firms from the market if millers continue hiking mealie meal prices. President Lungu said the price of mealie meal is too high for the ordinary Zambian.

The Head of state said this at Luato Market in Kalulushi when he addressed scores of marketeers and residents. Mr Lungu wondered why millers have resorted to unnecessary hikes when they are buying the grain from farmers cheaply.

Mr. Lungu said there was no way milling companies and traders would continue hiking mealie-meal prices when the price of maize was low.

He said maize was available in the country and there was no way mealie-meal prices would be hiked.

President Lungu said government had the power to close milling companies if they did not comply, because mealie-meal was a staple food.

He further said government would control the price of mealie-meal if milling companies continue hiking the prices so as to stabilize the price.

Mr Lungu said he will be meeting the agriculture Minister Given Lubinda and cabinet to discuss and look at trends on the market where consumers are being exploited by millers.Earlier, President Lungu took time to tour the 270 million Kwacha National Pension scheme -NAPSA housing scheme.

And President Lungu says no lecturer will be fired from the Copperbelt University-CBU as a result of the misunderstanding between management and lecturers which led to student protests and subsequent premature closure. Mr. Lungu said that all the parties involved have put behind their past and have opened a new chapter, which will be anchored by dialogue and respect for one another.

The Head of State made the remarks when he met the executive of the Copperbelt University Students Union-COBUSU at the Presidential Guest House in Kitwe. The President said that he will clamp down on lecturers who want to take advantage of the election period to champion their political cause. Mr Lungu said that he will not allow institutions of higher learning to be politically abused.

The President also advised students not to be used by politicians to resort to violence through street protests. He said it is unacceptable for students to disturb the rights of innocent citizens whom they stone on the roads each time they want to advance their grievances. Mr. Lungu emphasized that discipline is essential for the students to succeed in their academic pursuits. He noted that students who compromise on discipline do not achieve much in life.

And COBUSU President Humphrey Mwenya said there is need for Government to upgrade some of the vocational trade institutions into colleges and universities. Mr. Mwenya also asked the President to review meal allowances, as the current economic status is unable to sustain students.

IN response Mr. Lungu promised to table the matter with Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu and Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda.

President Lungu lifts a Baby during a tour of Kalulushi Market on the Copperbelt on Monday, November 2,2015 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA
President Lungu lifts a Baby during a tour of Kalulushi Market on the Copperbelt on Monday, November 2,2015 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA
President Lungu lifts a Baby during a tour of Kalulushi Market on the Copperbelt on Monday, November 2,2015 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA
President Lungu during a tour of Kalulushi Market on the Copperbelt on Monday, November 2,2015 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA
President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu on arrival during a tour of Kalulushi Market on the Copperbelt on Monday, November 2,2015 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA
President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu on arrival during a tour of Kalulushi Market on the Copperbelt on Monday, November 2,2015 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA
First Lady Esther Lungu buying fish during a tour of Kalulushi Market on the Copperbelt on Monday, November 2,2015 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA
First Lady Esther Lungu buying fish during a tour of Kalulushi Market on the Copperbelt on Monday, November 2,2015 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA
President Lungu addresses Chambishi residents after a tour of the market on Monday, Novermber 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
President Lungu addresses Chambishi residents after a tour of the market on Monday, Novermber 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA

76 COMMENTS

  1. Just try this stunt and you’re gone, even before 2016. Government should have no business in running business but create an enabling environment for business to thrive. There’s a lot this man still needs to learn! Be careful 2016 is fast approaching.

    • How can investor come to Zambia ? Since this man became president never heard him talk about anything normal apart bossing people . 5 more years under this government , Zambians will be refguess on boats to Europe . What has he done since he became president apart from talking shite , and getting more loans . Kwacha is worse economy on earth now , load shedding the all country .

    • PF is treading along dangerous ground. But knowing them, the tougher things get the more they become Kaunda like.

      Watch this space. Within less than 5 months from now, PF will start “nationalising”

      Remember the directive to ban foreigners from block making and quarrying businesses. It is a veiled “nationalisation” of some of the foreign owned businesses. Where do you expect those very well established investors in this industry to take their business?

    • Really this president is serious, he wants to nationalize what his govt has not invested in? This will be the end of private investment in Zambia. Anyways, this talk is all part of Dochi Kubeba sydrome, he will do nothing.

    • Mr President , if you think the dollar is flying away from Zambia, trying nationalizing. Any skeleton remaining with the Kwacha today will be dry bones tomorrow. And by the way, this nationalizing talk is not helping our currency while on life support of the Euro bond.

  2. Mr.President,not only melie meal prices,the price of cooking has been doubled from K60 to K120 after the banning of importation of cooking oil.Lubinda made a bad decisions.Indians own cooking oil manufactures campanies and very stupi—–d in exploiting Zambians.Please indians are taking advantage of us.Please empower Zambian first not those mwenye as zambians.These guys are having meetings and are suporting HH by hiking the prices bcoz they know that the only way to remove PF is to increase the prices of commodities.Please make sure also u fix the exchange rate coz it’s another area indians and other mafias are trying to force u out.If u can’t monitor the prices citizen and the Kwacha then Citizens will arise against u.Please monitor the prices.The chaps bought maize at from farmers…

    • Typical of visionless Pathetic Failure Cadres. So now you are blaming HH and UPND for PFs mismanagement of the economy?

    • NONSENSE WE ZAMBIANS ARE USELESS AT RUNNING SOME TRADE AREAS? SORRY NOT ALL BUT YOU WOULD BE JUDGING FROM THE WAY YOU WRITE. THE FIRST TURN OVER YOU WILL BUY YOURSELF A JEEP OR HUMMER. STOP BEING A RACIST WE DON T NEED YOUR TYPE IN THIS CENTURY.

    • Zambians themselves are major culprit, because any Zambia business person believes in making abnormal profits, not 100% but 150 to 200%, its a get rich fast culture. So do not start blaming Indians or Chinese, we are Zambians are our own waste enemies because we are raise but want fast money….
      What a circus, you chase out the British but fail to forge ahead, the country has actualy been going backwards since independence, 50 years, 50 blary solid years and we are still importing even the basic things like match sticks, needles and even spoons etc. What are graduates the country has been channing out since independence been doing?What was the essence of chasing out our colonial masters then? Its a shame….

    • Hahahaha!! Chasing ghosts… ati its HH controlling prices of these commodities? So HH has more control of commodity prices than govt and he’s only opposition, what more if he’s in power wont we just be getting cooking oil 2ltr for k2? I think i’m voting for HH. But this is typical PF thinking, things are not going well? It must be HH. Because we are perfect, look how nice our president looks. I dont know about you but i can’t eat swag.

  3. Conti.If u can’t monitor the prices citizen and the Kwacha then Citizens will arise against u.Please monitor the prices.The chaps bought maize at K1 per kg from farmers.And the soya beans was bougght @ 2.8-K3 per kg.

  4. Sad, we have a president that thinks the only thing that goes into making mealie meal is the maize bought from farmers. When will this man take responsibility for the mess PF “economics” have put Zambia in smh

    • Thanks for bringing out this point. Very sad indeed. A president who seems not to understand the costs in the stages of mealie meal production. How can a president have such reasoning that since maize prices are low therefore mealie meal prices must be low????

  5. Your excellence we are proud of you.Kindly ensure that the price of essential commodities goes down.We know for sure how Fred Mmembe and HH are conniving to increase the price of this commodities. Also visit Chamboli market

  6. Another investor scare. Difficult for investors to follow the policy course of PF when they can’t be sure of themselves, have never been, in fact. Where the hell do they stand? The dollar can’t stabilise under such uncertainity. Flip-floping has been at the core of PF character. Give us back our future or we show you the door!

    • More like buck dancing….
      He is wobbling!

      I am doubting the normalcy of our president. Talking of government take over in a country that relies heavily on FDI is a putting oneself in cross-hairs.

      Nkokwe, put on your scopes and lock and load!

  7. So Zambia will believe what he says ? What about milling company’s close what will he do ? Zambia bankrupt PF government does not own any milling company’s . 5 more years under this government in 21century Zambians will be on boats going to Europe .

    • Is the bakachema’s maize ya anyoko, iwe Lungu? Just sit down with your bakaponya and enjoy the high prices. This is what you get from being an idle mind.

  8. Mosco(OP), I totally agree with you on the price of cooking oil, these people have taken advantage of the ban. Yestsrday i went to shoprite & i was shocked to find that 5L container is at K 110. twice the price i bought a week ago. Let th govt reverse the ban because i felt robbed.

  9. Fix your useless economy , if Zambians hear or believe . If Zambians believe what this corrupit , bankrupt , dull government then close all univesities because all Zambians have became to dull to think by themself . How dull can a president became on earth in 21 century ? Zambia government owns Europe $ billions in loans plus loans from China . Mr lungu is %100 sure that his government can’t pay those loans . So the next generation coming will sefie because of his dullness and corruption .

  10. @ Moscow and mighty Its because of the useless Kwacha . $500 is k 500000 now , in millions , don’t you see a problem ?

    • People like Moscow they have no capacity to interpret issues, later on link the crazy kwacha to the cost of living.

  11. Because Indians got the money to run a factory , Zambian government is bankrupt plus $ billions in loans . How can $500 be k500000 now , we’re is this government talking this country . 5 more years under this government then Zambians enjoy poverty .

  12. If some people don’t have what to say on how to solve the rising prices, it is better they keep quiet than uttering things that are more likely to make the matters worse when they stand to speak.

    • This is exactly what this ignorant clown Lungu is doing!

      He should go back to school and learn some basic economics before opening his mouth on things he is too dull to understand.

  13. Your Excellency we sort of need to follow this to its logical conclusion. If Mealie Meal is the national staple diet we must move to control its cost and performance for consumers.

  14. Maybe most of these PF cadres here are too young but those of us who lived under UNIP know about price controls, nationalization, coupons etc and all these other failed schemes. Its like history repeating itself. We are back to square one unfortunately. Its like Kaunda back in charge. When will PF learn that you cannot manage an economy by daily threatening the business community.

  15. The major problem at hand is the unstable exchange rate and load shedding which is contributing to expensive commodity prices. Most of these companies rely on heavy gensets which consume diesel and is a very major expense when manufacturing these products. Raw materials are purchased at new dollar rates average of k13 . So please live the private sector to run before you start waking up at 03hrs to buy mealie meal. Sugar/cooking oil and other food products due to wrong decisions. Govt job is to help growth and enable a conducive enviourment to do business then all will fall in place.

  16. Maybe as a lawyer he doesn’t understand ati its not only maize that goes into manufacturing mealie meal. Its the main ingredient but not the only input Mr. President. Apologies to lawyers that do understand.

  17. The secret is to allow importers to continue bringing goods. Then those cooking oil companies will compete with them. Cooking oil was cheap. Na flour just open the market for cheap flour.

  18. Meanwhile the currency rate has just hit K19.57 to £1.00. I haven’t read anything from Lungu about how govt. in the general course of things, economy wise, plans to arrest this kwacha slide.

  19. IF ANYONE HAD ANY DOUBTS THIS SORRY EXCUSE FOR A PRESIDENT HAD NO VISION, THAT’S HIM JUST CONFIRMED!!
    We are Not in the 70’s Soviet Communist Era.
    When the Economy is Competently managed, there is competition, which leads to Quality products, & lowered prices.
    What Do Zambians expect with Graduates from Copperstone University like Kambwili, & Boneheads like Davies Chama in the driving seat??
    Somebody blogged the other day, “With this Calibre of leadership, Zambians will be seen in overloaded unseaworthy boats heading for Europe”
    I’m beginning to to believe it!

  20. “He further said government would control the price of mealie-meal if milling companies continue hiking the prices so as to stabilize the price.”
    no no no Mr. President price stabilization does not come with Government imposing price controls, you will make the situation worse.

  21. Please Lungu, NATIONALIZE THE MAIZE MILLING COMPANIES!

    This will be the best thing you will have done as President.

    Then FOR SURE you and your stup!d PF ideas will be OUT in 2016. Or maybe even before that!

  22. Lungu has resolved to archaic roadside declarations while he has not played his part. Notwithstanding, there is a global economic meltdown and Lungu should not make impromptu declarations creating a further economic fix out of political frustration.

  23. Maybe he should consult Kaunda before adopting failed communist economic policies. Why does he think its okay for ZESCO to hike tariffs but not for millers to do the same.

  24. Oh my god this lazy silly bum is going to undo all the work done since 1991…this is what happens when you elect useless chancers!!

  25. Mr President. The duty I pay for importing a car has doubled. Are you going to nationalize a govt institution called ZRA as well for increasing the import duty? The air tickets have also increased sir. How about nationalizing Proflight? Make flying cheaper for Zambians just as you want mealie meal to be cheap

  26. MISGUIDED AS THESE POLICIES MAYBE ATLEAST LUNGU HAS FINALLY SAID WHAT HE REALISES ARE THE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THE COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH AND HOW HE INTENDS TO START ADDREASING THEM. THE SOLUTIONS MAY NOT BE FEASIBLE OR WORKABLE BUT ITS A START. THERE IS NO WAY THREATENING INVESTORS HELPS THE SITUATION. THE ONLY POSITIVE HERE IS THAT WE NOW HAVE A MILD UNDERSTANDING OF LUNGUS POLICY DIRECTION. MR PRESIDENT PLEASE NOTE THAT WHAT YOU SAY IS ALWAYS HELD TO A HIGH STANDARD OF SCRUTINY AFTER ALL YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT!

  27. I THINK THE MAN DRINKS HIS LUTUKU BEFORE GOING TO ADDRESS THE RALLY TO GAIN COURAGE TO SPEAK, MEANWHILE THE STUFF HE TAKES CONFUSES HIM AND MAKES HIM SAY ANYTHING THAT COMES TO HIS MIND WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS UTTERANCES. HE CLAIMS THAT HE WILL NOT ENDORSE THE LAYING OFF OF WORKERS BY MINING COMPANIES. IS IT WITHIN HIS POWERS TO DO THAT? HE HAS THREANED TO NATIONALISE THE MILLING COMPANIES? DOES HE UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THAT CLAIM ALONE, LET ALONE THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD FOLLOW IF INDEED HE NATIONALISED THOSE COMPANIES? WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HIS PRESSS CHOLA BOY MADE A SIMILAR CLAIM? WE DO NOT HAVE A PRESIDENT IN THIS COUNTRY.

    • Let Lungu nationalise whatever he wants to.

      He will then discover very quickly that he can then kiss his arse goodbye!

  28. PURE KAMINAMISANOMICS!!!
    One needs not to be a Rocket Scientist, to work this one out!!
    Since Zambia embraced the Free Market, price of our main building ingredient -Cement, went down while the Quality went up.
    With Dangote joining the fray, the Quality of Cement further improved, whist the price dropped further. That’s prudent sound economic management.
    Nationalise the milling firms, put Cadres & stone throwers like Davies Chama to manage, & it will be a case of jumping from the”Frying pan into the Fire”
    Still can’t believe we are being led by clueless Cowboys!

  29. No wonder this man cannot even manage a press conference!

    His brain has NO CONTROL over his mouth, and it seems the Jamesoni has control over his brain!

  30. THE PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT FOOL HIMSELF WITH THE CROWD, CHIMPWENA FYE, PEOPLE HAVE GOT NOTHING TO DO AND NOWHERE TO GO SO FOR THEM IT WAS AN OUTING TO HAVE A LOOK AT HIM.

  31. Ba President, just implement the promised Chiness solar powered milling plants and leave the private milling plants alone. The Govt Solar Powered will provide mealie meal at a cheaper price hence the private millers will be forced to reduce to remain in business. Scaring Investors is harming the economy, Zimbabwe is a good example.

  32. Zambians very good at opening a mouth, FRA is sales maize to milling companies at a cheaper price and it is expected that milling companies reduced the price of mealie meal this is very normal. Currently one solar milling plant in kasama has been open under ZCF selling a 25kg bag of mealie meal at k45, Zambians talk is cheap, can we get to work hard ,i know we are sluggards.Let’s be positive work hard,change our thinking and attitude towards mother Zambia.Today i give you is task or challenge. Ask yourself is question” what have i done for Zambia ,to make it better.” Pls can we throw away negatively coz we will never progress.

  33. Most Zambian businesses, milling companies included, are exploiters and do not follow the laws of economics, even in good times, both for political and selfish reasons. ECL, please speed up the bringing in of the much awaited Chinese milling plants and kick these exploiters out of business. They do not deserve to be called business men but business mess. Mr President, you have the support of all Zambians across this nation who live on nshima and who are suffering at the hands of these vultures. And you lazy arm-chair critics, watch your foul mouths and start living.

    • Everyone who depends on mealie meal has the support of President Lungu. Why do you think China, for every privately owned bank opened, the State also opens up one. For instance in China, every sector of the economy has a specialized bank both by the State and private.
      Infact, your excellence, just bring in as many milling plants and cooking oil machines as possible. We all know the desperation of the cartel and hence all these unexplained price hikes. Its sad that UPND is hurting the same people it is begging votes from thinking people are not aware that its HH’s devilish scheme to hurt innocent people.
      We are aware of all these stup1dy schemes which will not work.

  34. The best and first thing to do is to disband this animal cartel (MILLERS ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA) chapwa so that so that theres no monopoly/oligopoly.

  35. Am just waiting for some neckless man to say it’s global and other presidents elsewhere are nationalising privately owned companies

  36. What matters is here cheap mealie meal and our people do not need to be exploited. Mr. President, if the cartel continue behaving the way they are, please don’t hesitate to introduce price controls after the majority want affordable basic needs period.
    Let them go and exploit other people not Zambians. Mmembe has tried to influence others to hike the newspapers but to no avail, his paper gets back to his offices and now he is crying foul saying he has no money to pay ZRA.
    Staple food prices in every country is closely monitored and we need to do the same here. Ba mampolyo mu UPND are so scared of 2016 because they are now exposed and we, the people will teach them a big lesson never to be forgotten.

  37. The president as usual is not being advised properly. Threatening Millers is not the answer. Let him negotiate with them behind closed doors. If Lubinda is failing to do that, then he should not keep him at Agriculture, he is a saboteur. The Long term solution however is for government to go into maize Milling as a business itself. Yes going back to the parastatal days. That way, government can control the price of mealie meal. Maize is a political crop because it deals with the belly. Ladies and gentlemen you don’t play around with the staple food. The world over, the staple is no laughing matter. (In japan there are laws about rice, read about it, in others it is potatoes, in more others it is wheat etc). A hungry man is an angry man! So stop these threats ECL, ACT. Act behind doors,…

  38. Hahahaha!! Alcohol is bad for developing brains like Lungu’s. Price controls in this day and age? Is it only Jemason he drinks this guy I’m sure he also smokes some of those ‘special’ cigarettes from 7 spirits in Chibolya.

  39. Is this what was called a visit to the copperbelt to iron out issues. This is now confusions. Which ever way you look at it, there is a problem. If you allow more cheaper imports they will affect local industries and which will result in job losses and loss of income for farmers who supply inputs to these companies. The issue here is just to fix the economy full stop. But with statements like this from the so called head of state, makes Zambia a bad destination for investment. This is pure kaponyalistic way of doing things.

    Who was the advisor to this man while on the copperblet? Of course my name sake Kambwili. What a mess.

  40. mojo – We will start disbanding everything – farmers associations, unions, NGOS, when we have failed to fix the economy.

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