Mealie meal supply improves
MILLERS who are accessing maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) have heightened the supply of mealie meal on the market as agreed with the Provincial administration in Lusaka Province.
A check in various chain stores and other outlets in Lusaka revealed stability in the supply of mealie meal.
FRA, Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) and the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) have entered into a tripartite agreement to ensure affordable mealie meal was available on the market.
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (CS)-SUN was impressed with the prompt response by the millers.
CSO-SUN country coordinator, Mathews Mhuru, said it was also pleasing that milling companies had started printing the K136 retail price tag of the commodity on the 25 kg bags of mealie meal as it would prevent exploitation.
“Close monitoring of the situation is required to ensure steady supply of mealie meal,” Mr Mhuru said.
Mr Mhuru said labelling the price would prevent the exploitation of consumers by retailers especially in compounds where the commodity was selling beyond the recommended K136 price.
“In some parts of Lusaka, CSO-SUN has noted with regret that some retailers especially shops owned by Rwandese and Burundians have continued selling mealie meal between K170 and K210 after buying in bulk from Shoprite and other Chain Stores,” he said.
Mr Mhuru said effect of hiked prices on households was a threat as increased costs prevented them from accessing the commodity.
He said lack of access to mealie meal threatened food security and frustrated the fight against malnutrition.