GOVERNMENT is concerned with the rising prices of food stuffs in retail shops such as Shoprite in Eastern Province.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo said during a press briefing in his office in Chipata yesterday that the retail shops such as Shoprite was fond of inflating the figures of food stuffs despite the Kwacha stabilizing against the United States (US) dollar.
Mr Kasolo who was flanked by his Deputy Patrick Mwanawasa said he was shocked that most of the food stuffs in Shoprite have been increased.
He said some essential commodities such as mealie-meal, cooking oil and other essentials have been increased by the retail shop.
Mr Kasolo said his office conducted a fact finding mission in which a bag of mealie-meal was selling at K85 per 25 kilogramme in Shoprite compared to other shops whose prices per bag was between K65 and K63 respectively in the border town.
“The other day we conducted a survey by picking three shops namely Shoprite, Spar and Kavulamungu but we noticed is that the prices for example in Shoprite is selling a price of mealie-meal called Super Mealile at K85 while in other shops it is only K65 and K63 respectively. Again like that was not the case, on Saturday we bought Black Label at K399 and as of yesterday (Sunday), the price went to K429 imagine. Please let Shoprite not exaggerate on the figures,” he said.
He said the shop owners should be honest enough saying the Government would always protect the interest of the majority Zambians by having a good deal.
Mr Kasolo said he was aware that some shop owners were trying to make the Patriotic Front (PF) Government through the hike in the prices of food stuffs unpopular.
He said Government had powers to cancel trading licenses for shop owners who were frustrating Government.
Mr Kasolo also said Government has released 3,125 metric tonnes of relief food to Eastern Province.
He said Petauke District had the highest allocation with 885 metric tonnes followed by Lundazi District with 529 metric tonnes, Katete District 416 metric tonnes and Chipata District been allocated with 372 metric tonnes.
“Sinda District has 256 metric tonnes, Nyimba District has been allocated with 206 metric tonnes, Mambwe District 185 metric tonnes, Chadiza District has 155 metric tonnes and Vubwi District has been apportioned with 121 metric tonnes,”he said.
Mr Kasolo said he had since instructed District Commissioner’s office to identify the needy areas where food crises were most needed.
He said the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) was supposed to be delivered to the beneficiaries by the end of this month.
He said it was also good that 147,290 people have accessed the ongoing issuance of the national registration cards in the province.
He said the target was only 80,000 but he was happy that the province had surpassed the required number.
Mr Kasolo has also blamed Provincial Building Engineer Wilson Chifwima for certifying and asking for the payment to a contractor who did a shoddy work on a teacher’s house in Ukwimi area of Petauke District.
He said he would not hesitate to punish erring officers for lack of supervision on the Government projects.
Oh really. Only if you had removed your heads from your butts, you could have realised that it your govts policies that have made it possible for prices to go up not Shoprite.
Why worry about Shoprite? Go and shop elsewhere. Your govt is creating a chaotic business environment and you expect a business as usual environment.
Don’t worry about the symptoms, deal with the causes.
Dear PFoolish Airheads
What you are getting is the result of dissing your local farmers! If Lungu and his minions spend their days sneering at bakachema, then you will be eating K120 chicken from Shoprite. It seems that Shoprite prefer traders’ imported foods, maybe to blow away the stolen Eurobonds, than supporting and respecting local farmers.
I will ISIS to zambia to clear PF dimwits. Ati we went to buy black label……lol
How I wish Sata had also called his Perm Secs Useless! Don’t wonder why prices of shoprite goodies (90% imported) are sky rocketting, figure out why PF kwacha is overtaking Usain Bolt. Stop fooling us!
Misplaced priorities indeed! As your so called survey indicated other retailers have not increased their prices, so late market forces prevail. Consumer have a choice either to purchase from ‘overpriced’ Shoprite or to go to the cheaper alternatives. This issue did not even warrant an investigation, yet a press briefing by the PS office.
“….compared to other shops whose prices per bag was between K65 and K63 respectively in the border town.” Between 65 and 63? Respectively to what? Is it Kasolo with broken English or Lusaka Times broken English as usual? Ati we did a research. Research where Shoprite gets its goodies and convert to kwacha from rand. Its not shoprite with an issue but your kwacha which has become useless
Always and about all issues, all we get is the statement: “Govt is concerned”. Whatever that statement means!! On commodity prices, if shop rite is expensive then people should go to cheaper retail shops. No one is obliged to buy from shoprite! Do PF Leaders think????
Do PF Leaders think????
Do you have to ask ?????
They are still struggling to understand what a “liberalized economy” means. Supply and Demand is greek to them.
They don’t have the brains – that is why our economy is in the sh!t.
If you are concerned do something about it.
Dollar stabilised??? Send this boy back to Grade 1!
Zambia is a free market. Nobody forces people to buy from Shoprite. If their prices are too expensive, go and buy elsewhere, chapwa! We truly have *****s in senior positions making stupid statements in this useless government.
This is how foreign countries destabilise our beloved country.
Such countries are conniving with the opposition to make Zambia ungovernable.
Kindly step in Mr President and control the situation. Being a military guy, you are best fit to deal with such ACTS OF SABOTAGE!