LOOMING FLOUR PRICE HIKE WORRIES CONSUMERS

THE Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has engaged the bakers and other stakeholders to chart the way forward in the wake of the anticipated hike in flour prices.

ZACA executive secretary Juba Sakala said the move was aimed at ensuring that the second staple food from maize remained affordable, where consumers were able to use it as an alternative to mealie meal.

Mr Sakala said the flour price was still the same, that ZACA was also in the process of engaging millers as well as the higher authorities to address the situation.

Mr Sakala revealed that there was an impending increment in the price of flour because the commodity was being exported.

He said plans were underway to seek attention with the relevant government wings to consider harmonising prices and making the product affordable to consumers.

The millers are alleged have been selling a 50kg to of flour

$34.

He said ZACA felt the commodity was too much expensive for consumers, especially with the current increase in mealie meal prices people depended on.

A recent survey carried out by ZACA in some bakeries revealed an impending increment in the price of flour products by 10 to 15 percent.

This was because the commodity was being bought at the export price of $34 which was equivalent to the current exchange rate for 50kg of at the export price of flour.

Mr Sakala said an increase in the price of bread was looming because the bakers wanted to make profit and in the process costs would eventually be passed on to the consumers.

“If there will no intervention from various stakeholders, the price of bread will increase just as what we are experiencing with mealie meal, and that should not be the case, that is why we are engaging stakeholders,” he said.