Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya has charged that it is unscrupulous retailers who are pushing up the price of mealie meal, thereby disadvantaging ordinary citizens.

In a statement, Thursday, Siliya stated that Acting President Inonge Wina had instructed the Agriculture Minister Micheal Katambo to meet with major retail outlets to address the price distortions.

“Government wishes to express great concern over the high price of mealie meal which is reported to have reached K150 for 25kg bag of breakfast and K120 for a 25kg bag of Roller meal in some cases. Government will not stand by and watch the staple food go out of reach of Zambians. Honorable Katambo has been instructed to urgently meet major retail outlets to address the price distortions. Government is also aware of price distortions in the maize buying market. While the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) buy-in price is K110 per 50Kg of maize, the private sector price is as high as K170 per 50kg bag of Maize. This too is clear distortion because historically the price difference between FRA and the private sector has never been more than K10 per bag. However, this year the difference is as high as K60. The average selling price by millers to retailers is between K115 to K120 only, while for roller meal the millers are selling to retailers at between K80 to K90,” Siliya stated.

“Our information is that what is driving the high maize buying price in the private sector are the three major manufacturers of livestock feed who are procuring maize at exorbitant prices, to make stock feed cake for export, at the expense of ordinary Zambians. The Acting President Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina has instructed the Minister of Agriculture to immediately arrest the price distortions in the market, for example the price of a 25kg bag of breakfast is selling at 150 in Sioma in Western province and similarly at 150 in Lusaka and the Copperbelt. This is a clear case of price distortion by unscrupulous retailers who wish to enjoy abnormal profits at the expense of ordinary Zambians. You would expect the price of mealie meal to be cheaper in Lusaka and the Copperbelt because that is where milling plants are located. The average selling price by millers to retailers is between ZMK115 to ZMK120 only, while for roller meal the millers are selling to retailers at between ZMK80 to ZMK90. Hon Katambo has been instructed to urgently meet major retail outlets to address the price distortions.”

She stated that there were also prices distortions in the maize buying market.

“Government is also aware of price distortions in the maize buying market. While the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) buy-in price is ZMK110 per 50Kg of maize, the private sector price is as high as ZMK170 per 50kg bag of Maize. This too is clear distortion because historically the price difference between FRA and the private sector has never been more than ZMK10 per bag. However, this year the difference is as high as ZMK60. Once again Hon. Katambo will today meet with manufacturers of livestock feed to arrest the price distortion in the maize buying market. Our information is that what is driving the high maize buying price in the private sector are the 3 major manufacturers of livestock feed who are procuring maize at exorbitant prices, to make stock feed cake for export, at the expense of ordinary Zambians,” Siliya stated.

“​Government has instructed the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to render a report to Government on these price distortions within 24 hours. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon Katambo is expected to conclude these interventions by Government to stabilize the price of Mealie meal and make the staple food affordable to ordinary Zambians in the next few days.”

She insisted that Zambia was food secure.

“The Government wishes to reassure the nation that while the country was impacted by drought and floods in some areas, the country is food secure and Government will do everything possible to ensure that it remains so and that no Zambian should die from hunger,” stated Siliya.