Residents of Shiwang`andu district in Muchinga Province have complained over the hiked prices of mealie -meal due to shortage of the commodity in the district.
The residents talked to by the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) lamented that they have been affected by the sudden change in mealie – meal prices in the district a thing they said should be addressed.
The residents called on Shiwa Milling to come on board and supply more of the commodity on the market in order to curb the increasing mealie – meal prices.
However, Director for Mansya River Enterprise Limited, Charles Harvey said that Shiwa Milling, a joint Agriculture initiative of Manshya River Enterprise and Musika has been working tirelessly to ensure that the local people buy mealie meal at a cheaper price.
Mr. Harvey stressed that of late Shiwa Milling has been having challenges to access maize from local farmers resulting in the shortage of Shiwa mealie meal on the market.
He said that by the end of this week, Shiwa Milling is expectant to buy 2000 x 50kg bags of maize from the traders for the production of mealie meal.
Mr. Harvey said that once Shiwa Milling offloads its commodity on the market the price will either be maintained at K100 or reduce if maize traders consider to lower the order price of the grain.
The reason why other brands of mealie meal have run out on the market in Shiwang’andu is not known yet but a check by ZANIS found that only 4 shops in the Central Business Centre (CBD) had mealie meal in stock with the cheapest price being K55 for a 5kg and K100 for a 25kg bag of mealie meal while others are selling the same quantity at K110 and K120 respectively.
What ever happened to those 2000 solar hammer mills imported from China ….another huge sum of money down the drain and into Lazy Lungu’s pockets I am sure there is a rich Chinaman laughing at us.
They are there, i have seen many all across the countryside. They are small bright blue buildings, typically around 15-20 km’s apart along the country roads.
Really does not make any sense yeah?
Start exporting maize meal at the same time hike it’s price on the local market.
Doesn’t that defy logic?
It’s global!
Don’t forget we have a drought this year! Therefore expect the full effects of the laws of Supply and Demand!
Chill!
It’s Global!
Its not global, its poor planning, remember, unprocessed maize is being exported. Global means worldwide. Our politicians have claimed bumper harvests every year for the past 5 years. Maybe I have to look up the meaning of bumper harvest
Remember the helicopter you almost brought down with Kampyongo
This useless chipante pante govt, why export maize if your people are starving, dull cadres and useless drunks in the wrong office
Plz increase the commodity price to k500 per 10kg of roller meal so that they vote wisely next time there are elections. No more voting for street adults from katondo street
Isnt it interesting ?
The cry of the consumer makes headlines.
The cry of the producer (farmer) never gets acknowledged
The farmers fuel price to deliver his maize goes up. His fertiliser and chemical prices follow the dollar. The farmer is taken for granted !!
Mwape you are right.The consumers want to use the farmer as a beast of burden.It is hard work and costly to produce a 50kg bag of maize.Why should Shiwan’gandu or any rural area resort to buying mealie-meal from a shop or miller.They grow the maize, why subnject themselves to starvation?Lack of planning!