By BRIAN HATYOKA? –
THE Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) in Livingstone is baffled that retailers have not reduced mealie meal prices despite the intervention by the Government in the maize market.
Recently, the Government announced that it would supply subsidised maize to millers from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to stimulate reduction in mealie meal prices but the price of the commodity has remained high in retail outlets.
JCTR Livingstone regional officer George Makaha said the price of mealie meal in retail outlets had remained high despite several measures taken by Government to mitigate the cost of living including the direct negotiations with millers, which resulted in the reduction of mealie meal prices by K4 per bag.
Mr Makaha said retailers were surprisingly arguing that they were still selling mealie meal at the old prices and that they had to sell out the old stock before replenishing the stock at the adjusted?prices.
“However, while Government’s efforts are commendable, there is need for both long-term and sustainable measures to stabilise the overall cost of mealie meal and other basic needs,” Mr Makaha said.
JCTR fully supported Governments’ intention to set-up maize milling plants across the width and breadth of the country.
“On the domestic consumption side, we appeal for consumption diversification which will include rice and potatoes to thwart undue demand for mealie meal,” Mr Makaha said.
He also noted that the continued depreciation of the Kwacha would exacerbate the already high cost of living as opportunity import costs will be transferred to consumers.?As a faith based organisation, JCTR was concerned with the plight of people in society, especially that of the poor.
Information from The Central Statistics Office (CSO) indicates that Zambia’s annual inflation rate in February 2015 reduced by 0.3 per cent to 7.4 from 7.7 per cent recorded in January 2015 on account of mainly reduced fuel costs.
Meanwhile, the cost of living for Livingstone in the month of February 2015 as measured by the JCTR’s Basic Needs Basket (BNB) for an average family of five living in Livingstone stood at K 3,101.49.
When compared to the month of January 2015 when the January BNB stood at K3, 158.32, there has been a decrease of K56.83.