Reduction in mealie-meal prices must be meaningful

By Jane Chanda 

The Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) says consumers can expect a reduction in mealie-meal prices within the next six weeks on account of the promising maize yield in the country.

This is welcome news indeed for the millions of Zambians who depend on the maize meal for their staple food, but have endured the very high prices in the last couple of years, where the price of the commodity has become too expensive beyond many people’s reach.

Even the stop-gap measure the government tried to come up with to at least show a semblence of cheap mealie-meal, the Eagles mealie-meal, produced by the Zambia National Service, has now become a rare commodity in chain stores such as ShopRite. If it’s made available, it is quickly purchased, while some have engaged in the habit of hoarding, or even engaging in hire purchase for the commodity. It is safe to say that the undertaking has proved unstable at best, unless if all the bottlenecks in its availability are immediately addressed.

Therefore, the promise from the Millers Association of Zambia should be celebrated. But what will matter most is the extent of the reduction in the commodity. It surely has to be meaningful enough for the general public to appreciate it. Given the Kwacha’s loss of value against other major convertible currencies, where today it’s taking huge strides towards K30 to US$1, a reduction of anything below appreciable levels may not have much of an impact. For people to really appreciate the reduced price, most people should feel that they can manage to purchase their beloved staple food without feeling the strain.

It is undeniable that the country has had very goods rains which must ensure abundant supply of the commodity on the market. The good rains we have experienced must actually put to bed not just the problems experienced with the mealie-meal prices, but all the problems of load shedding etc.

The government must work towards ensuring that the price of the staple food is not beyond the reach of people. And any government must know that it spells trouble for them the moment people are constantly complaining that they cannot afford to buy a bag of mealie-meal.

The late Professor PK Chisala famously urged authorities during his time that they could increase prices of all the other commodities except mealie-meal. He said people work, therefore they also need to eat affordable mealie-meal because good eating creates an environment for people to think properly and work hard.

Zambians are urged to start counting the days from now onwards for the next six weeks to see the realisation of the promise. We hope it won’t be an anti-climax but a real real climax.