Government, millers agree to drop mealie meal prices

Government and millers have agreed to drop mealie meal prices between K160 and K170 for a K25 kilogramme (Kg) bag.

This is meant to alleviate the current high mealie meal prices on the market.

And the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has also announced that it has so far offloaded 153, 330.00 metric tonnes of maize to various millers countrywide.

FRA Board Chairperson Kelvin Hambwezya said from the 153,330.00 tonnes offered to millers, 75,000 tonnes has so far been paid for while the balance was yet to be paid.

“We are appealing to millers to expedite their payments and collect the allocated maize stock,” said in Lusaka during a media briefing on Monday.

Hambwezya pointed out that the agency was selling maize to millers at K4, 000 per tonne.

He said this was despite the prices at the open market ranging between K5, 300 and K5, 600 per tonne.

On the other hand, Hambwezya warned millers that were still selling maize to neighbouring countries that they would be dealt with.

He said it was immoral that despite the panic buying by some people, millers had continued selling maize outside.

“We have agreed with the millers to reduce the price of mealie meal despite raising some concerns of high price of fuel, people should not panic that there is a shortage of maize in the country because the country has enough food stock of maize,” Hambwezya said.

Meanwhile, Hambwezya also warned politicians that were going round alarming the situation over shortage of mealie meal in the country.

He said such sentiment could put the country into havoc and turmoil.

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