Ban export of flour , demands ZACA

…as price hikes of bread and other products loom

GOVERNMENT has been asked to immediately ban the export of flour in the wake of looming price hike on bread and other flour products.

Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) executive secretary Juba Sakala has appealed to Government, Millers Association of Zambia, Bakers Association of Zambia and stakeholders to hold a meeting as soon possible to address the issue to avoid what had happened to maize meal.

Mr Sakala said a survey carried out by ZACA in some bakeries revealed an impending increment in the price of flour products by 10 to 15 percent.

He attributed the looming price hike to the high cost of flour and the fact that the commodity was being bought at the export price of $34 which was equivalent to the current exchange rate for 50kg of flour.

Mr Sakala accused the millers of holding the bakeries at ransom by failing to harmonise the commodity.

He said flour was the second staple food for Zambians after maize and there was need for quick intervention to avoid ending up with a similar situation of mealie meal prices.

He said ZACA wanted bread and other flour products to be affordable so that they could be used as an alternative to maize meal especially in the townships where most consumers were barely managing a meal.

“We appeal to Government to ban the export of flour so that consumers can have access to flour products at an affordable price as this will also act as an alternative to maize meal which has become so expensive to most consumers.

“Bakeries have tried to liaise with millers but to no avail as they have no any other option to increase the price of the product and continue to delivering to consumers,” Mr Sakala said.