SOME Kalomo mealie meal traders have taken it up to themselves to make an extra profit by illegally hiking the price of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) Eagle mealie-meal and the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS)’ Kalonga meal.
The commodity for the two brands were meant to cushion the price of meali-meal to allow ordinary people to afford the staple amidst high prices.
Stipulated retail prices are K240 for a 25 kilograms bag of breakfast meal and K190 for roller meal.
However, it has been discovered that some traders are reportedly selling these 25 Kg bags breakfast meal at K280 and a bag of roller meal at K230.
Addressing the issue at a district food security task force meeting, Kalomo district Commissioner Joshua Sikaduli condemned the exploitation and urged immediate enforcement of price controls.
Sikaduli directed security agencies to ensure that shop owners adhere to the government’s recommended prices for the Kalonga and Eagles mealie-meal brands or face legal consequences.
“We cannot sit idle and watch our people being exploited,” he stated.
“There is need for strict regulation to prevent the situation from escalating.”
In response to the price gouging, the district food security task force has recommended the appointment of 10 local traders who will be authorised to purchase mealie-meal at wholesale prices from ZCS and ZNS milling plants and sell them at the regulated prices.
By Elesani Phiri
Kalemba June 11, 2024
 Eagle mealie-meal and the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS)' Kalonga meal.){kind=link}