THE Patriotic Front (PF) Government has of late exhibited great care for the people of Zambia going by its growing concern over the high cost of essential commodities such as mealie-meal.
Because of the ever increasing prices of mealie-meal, average citizens cannot even afford small packs of the commodity commonly referred to as ‘Pamela’.
This has contributed to high poverty levels especially in low income bracket households as well as those living in rural areas of the country.
In most cases, prices of this commodity have gone to as high as K100 per 25 kilogramme bag especially in areas which are far away from major milling firms.
Millers have attributed this to the increased operational costs brought about by high electricity tariffs, transport and other overhead expenses.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Given Lubinda has since coming into office this year, worked round the clock to ensure that the price of mealie-meal is reduced to make it affordable to ordinary Zambians.
This campaign has not been very easy as the Minister has met resistance from some millers and traders alike, who have not made any significant move to towards reduction of the price of the staple food.
Efforts are being made by both the Government and the private sector to see how best they can address this challenge.
Recently, the Prisons Service embarked on an ambitious project to set up milling plants in various provinces starting with Kabwe, all aimed at making mealie-meal prices sustainable.
The Prisons Service is already operating the Kabwe milling plant successfully and plans are afoot to set up more plants countrywide.
Plans are also underway by the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) to set up milling plants around the country to help arrest the skyrocketing prices of mealie-meal.
Just a couple of weeks ago, President Edgar Lungu also announced Government intentions to set up milling plants to help mitigate the prices of mealie-meal.
This is why we are in support of calls by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) on the Government to put up long-term and sustainable measures to stabilise the overall cost of mealie meal and other basic needs.
JCTR also acknowledged several measures taken by the Government to curb the high cost of living as well as through direct negotiations with the millers which resulted in the paltry reduction by K4 per bag.
The concern of this caring Government and all the stakeholders should be supported especially that it touches on the ordinary citizens’ basic needs.
Government in addition, should  endeavour to give incentives to potential investors in this sector such as the Prisons Service, ZCF and others for example, so that they can be able to bring  in  the necessary milling equipment and other accessories duty free if possible, to speed up the process of setting up milling plants in major centres of the country.
Once this is done, the mealie-meal issue will not be subjected to political manipulation especially by those in the opposition who want make it a big issue when seeking political mileage.
The move by the Government though long-term, should be supported at all costs if the war against high mealie-meal prices is to be won.