Thursday, March 28, 2024

Matibini orders ministerial statement on high mealie-meal prices

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National Assembly of Zambia speaker Patrick Matibini delivering his speech.
National Assembly of Zambia speaker Patrick Matibini delivering his speech.

Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has directed Minister of Agriculture Given Lubinda to issue a ministerial statement to parliament next week on the high prices of mealie meal.

Dr. Matibini noted that this week has almost ended but ruled that Mr. Lubinda comes with a comprehensive answer to the House on the status quo surrounding the high price of mealie-meal in the nation.

The Speaker ruled after PF Mpongwe Member of Parliament (MP) Gabriel Namulambe raised a point of order requesting the Agriculture Minister not to ‘comfortably’ sit down in the House but update the nation on the escalating high prices of mealie-meal following the recent maize ban lift by government.

“My ruling is that Honourable Minister of Agriculture Mr. Lunbinda should give a comprehensive statement of the status quo of this vital product (meali-meal) not later than next week,” Dr. Matibini said.

The price of mealie-meal has reached K150, 000 per 25 kilogram bag in some parts of the country.

Parliamentarians including other stakeholders like Millers Association of Zambia and Zambia Consumer Association among others have expressed concern and urged government to address the price of the essential commodity.

Meanwhile, General Education Minister John Phiri has disclosed that K76 million has been budgeted for purchasing school desks for pupils.

Dr. Phiri, who is nominated MP, observed that the nation is currently faced with a serious desk deficit at learning institutions.

The Minister however, assured that desks at Munyama Basic School in Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency would soon be procured so that pupils do not sit on the floor and other related material.

24 COMMENTS

  1. Does the GOVT need to be ordered to issue a statement? I thought it’s the Govt’s duty to tell the nation on matters that affect the nation without being forced. Something is really wrong! Where are you GOVT?

    • Where are you Government?

      Dancing. Drinking. On holiday in New York. At taxpayers – sorry Eurobond – expense!

      Do you really need to ask?

  2. Ministerial statement on price of corn meal, really? Of course there`s less supply of maize.

  3. Does this Parliament have any business to do? No wonder they are insulting each other in Parliament. Parliament discussing price of mealie-meal? No for heaven’s sake. Parliament is supposed to be discussing production & factors affecting production but not consumption issues. That is the baby of consumer bodies and millers. Instead of reviewing & assigning production targets for the Agriculture Minister, they are busy molesting him with trivial issues. Assign him with production targets and deadline for distribution of inputs. Prices of mealie-meal is not his baby but that of Minister of Commerce & Finance for fiscal and monetary policies only. Countries like South Africa, Botswana, Namibia in short all SACU region they don’t discuss mealie-meal at national level but at consumer level. I…

    • An average Zambian long stopped buying mealie-meal and just take their maize to a hammer meal. The crucial issue now is production of maize in excess to cater for export but not smuggling and this is what Parliament should be pondering.

    • You see monkeys who have 3 meals per day dont care about what is happening to the remaining 90% of the population who are living below the poverty datum line and cant afford even the barest of existence.For you bwana PF cadre @true zambian, the fact that everybody else is struggling to afford mealie meal does not matter as long as nawikuta..wendoshiwe.Thumbs up to the Speaker for asking this government to behave responsibly for once and not take people for granted.Ubunga is scarce in places like Chingola and costing K120 yet they have the audacity to export maize???WTF!!!We await to hear what Zayelo will bark next week.

  4. @Wiiliz UPND cadre don’t draw me in your UPND insults and violence which you specialise. I speak fiscal and monetary issues. Do you think the Speaker will reduce the price of mealie-meal in Chingola? Its only the mealers who can do that and they have already given their position.

  5. @true zambia! You should in the first place learn to wipe yo black damn a.ss.hole before opening yo black mandibal. What do you really know on issues pertaining e.g, the failed agriculture ministerial outflow? Is the speaker matibin not in good array to thus ask the minister to indeed give a comprehensive statement over our very staple food’s alarming prices. Please just shut yo fu.ck up & sit down ok! Viva Presido HH 2ol6.

  6. The following useless bloggers can never comment on a storyline like this one which exposes their ineptude and corrupt leaders;
    1. HH Techilema 2. Kudos 3. MMD Bootlicker 4. Katondo Boys AKA Emmanuel Mwamba 5. Senior citizen
    6. and the worst vemin of them all PETER (Some id.iot who probable cleans toilets at the Zambian embassy in London)

    • Insulting is a demonstration that you`re unable to think. Learn to differ with civility. Avoid commenting on issues when you`re stressed with your domestic issues. Take care man.

  7. Next MPs will be pocketing K500 grand gratuity for ‘the job well done’. A stage needs to be set for this by them seeming to care. That’s why this statement is crucial at this point.

  8. But if there is Maize in the country ? Why should people wait to be told to go to the milling ? Buy Maize and take it to the millers you don’t Waite for the government to tell you the no rocket science, it’s about time Zambians should start using there Brian’s?

  9. Hey kudos, gen, assage, senile citizen, unpatriotic abroad keyboard, PF bootlicker and other PF corybants….kaili comment?

    It’s shameful that you have raised price of mealie meal five fold since last.year from around K30 to K150 and then mfyo mfyo you want another five year in which mealie meal will reach K2500 per 25kg. ATASE…..malabbish

  10. The price of mealie will drop by over half in the next 3 to 4 weeks when maize is harvested. WE ARE HAVING A BUMPER HARVEST THANKS TO FISP!

    PF is working hard!

    2016 ECL nafuti

    • with elections coming up the mm price will drop, load shedding will stop and the kwacha will get stronger….wait till elections are over then the real mess of the state will come out!!!!!!!!!!! kwacha will go to 20, there wont be enough maize to feed everyone, load shading will increase, zesco and fuel prices will go up……wait and see……….we are the only country where fuel price has not increased even though oil prices are ever increasing how can the government sustain this cost?????????

  11. ECL Nafuti going back to chawama bars this time as the former clueless,visionless,useless,hopeless,dullness,,brainless and a drunkard president.

  12. The vulgar language of UPND verbal thugs on this site is a clear signal of what UPND is truelly made of-intolerance and bigotry of epic proportions. Zambians can see through their lies, fear mongering and hate speech!

    They know themselves which is why these truelly dull and evil minded chaps with only insults when confronted with cold facts by pro PF bloggers have run out of ideas and resort t insults.

    2016 ECL nafuti

  13. The problem with my countrymen is that they seem not to know their own currency. Surely can a 25kg bag cost K150,000? I am sure the useless editor meant K150. And don’t lecture me on debased or re-structured Kwacha, that happened a very long time ago. Wake up!!

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