Government has been urged to address the artificial shortage of mealie meal in the country and ensure normal supply of the commodity on the market.
Zambia Consumers’ Association (ZACA) director Muyunda Ililonga said shortage of the commodity in most parts of the country was a public concern and that it was the responsibility of Government to find a lasting solution to the problem.
Mr Ililonga said yesterday in an interview that consumers were being exploited by businesses because of the commodity shortage which has continued to persist in some parts of the country.
“We appeal to Government to ensure normal supply of the commodity is restored. It is not the millers’ issue at the end of the day because people will look up to Government to ensure that mealie meal was available on the market,” he said.
He said Government should ensure that businesses do not use their business interests to exploit the consumers.
“Pointing fingers will not help because at the end of the day it is the people who are suffering and Government should ensure that consumers are protected at all costs,” he said.
Mr Ililonga urged Government to facilitate increased mealie meal production by millers and that law enforcement authorities at Kasumbalesa border should intensify patrols to halt smuggling.
He said it was unacceptable for unscrupulous traders to allegedly smuggle mealie meal into Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“Law enforcement agents must enforce their checks and patrols at the border and they should encourage them to remain vigilant so that the consumers were not deprived the local market,” he said.
The PF government has never accepted responsibility for anything since they assumed power. They are prone to finding excuses all the time, and that’s why nothing works for them. It’s like they are not ready to take responsibility for anything. They will accuse someone else as the causer for the shortages; I am sure they will issue a statement allerging that the opposition and the millers are working against the PF government and want it to fail. They will accuse the opposition as being BITTER and causing the shortage of mealie meal in the country. You can tell that the PF have never known how to run government machinery and this fact is manifesting in the way things are turning out today. There are no drugs in hospitals and clinics, our cities are filthy because of street vendors. Shame!
Very funny how the busu has become such a political subject in Zambia. I do not know why this is so in some countries that the govt is expected to do this and that for busu. In other countries, like Botswana, no one links bunga to politics; only market forces are at play, the president has never even made any directive on this subject, neither have the customers been crying to the govt for price control – it is just business for those who are in that business!
Stupid idiot KBM what is the goverment for. This is the job for the goverment
You think these chaps should be enjoying getting free money while we go
Hungry. Obama worked his ass off to fix the economy, why should we allow
These fools to be there enjoying power.