Outcry over conditional buying method

RESIDENTS in Hwange have come out guns blazing against local retail shops accusing them of daylight robbery as they force customers to buy other groceries as a condition to access Government subsidised roller meal.

The Government is subsiding mealiemeal and a 10kg bag now costs $70, while unsubsidised mealie-meal is going for as much as $130 the same bag. However, suppliers have not been able to meet increased demand while reports have also emerged of people diverting the commodity to the black market.

According to residents who spoke to Sunday News, some supermarkets were taking advantage of their desperation for mealie-meal to profiteer.

“What these shops are doing is not fair, forcing us to buy other things like flour, sugar or rice if you want to buy mealie-meal. The economic situation is tough and now these businesses are forcing us to buy things we have not budgeted for. What sort of a businessman exploits a facility that is being done by Government? In essence they are working against the Government initiative,” a Hwange resident Ms Florence Mathe said.

Another resident Miss Berita Sibanda said the exploitation of customers was contributing to poverty and called on authorities to take corrective action.

“I came from the rural areas to buy mealiemeal and I only had money for the mealie-meal and transport. Now I am being told to buy either a 2kg of flour or sugar which costs $43 and $46 respectively. Our understanding was that this subsidised roller meal was meant to cushion us from the exorbitant prices that were being charged. Those in Government must come in and address the matter,” she said.

Last week, police had to be called in to maintain order after residents threatened to force their way into the shop in protest over the conditional buying method employed by the retail outlet.

Zapalala supermarket branch manager, Mr Bernard Jongwe defended the move saying they were forced to employ conditional buying to offset surplus stock.

“Yes, we are aware of the concerns raised by our customers. However, we have had to employ the conditional buying method after one of our suppliers National Foods overstocked us with certain products.

“Conditional buying was not mandatory and I understand that it didn’t get buy in from our customers because they didn’t understand where we are coming from. What we were simply trying to do was to run down another product by using roller meal. We have of course exempted elderly people as well as disadvantaged ones from the condition. The supplier has of course been engaged to consider the issue of overstocking us,” he said.

Mr Jongwe said as a result of the public outcry they will suspend conditional buying.

Long winding queues have become the order of the day as people struggle to access the mealie-meal which has been in short supply. Reports have emerged of unscrupulous retailers diverting the mealie-meal to the black market. Authorities recently unearthed corrupt dealings involving GMB officials and employees.