OLIVER SAMBOKO writes
@SunZambian
MILLERS in Zimbabwe have with immediate effect increased the prices of mealie-meal following changes in the forex policy announced by Harare recently.
The increase is expected to have a direct effect on Zambians living in Chirundu and Siavonga who have been crossing into Zimbabwe to buy maize and mealie meal because of a shortage on the Zambian side caused by the drought that hit the southern Part of Zambia in the last rainy season.
In a statement Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara said the new mealie meal prices were with effect from June 1.
In a letter to the association’s members Mr Musarara explained that the decision to increase the prices was arrived at following significant changes in the economy influenced by the change in foreign exchange policy.
The new policy directed them to use the interbank rate, among other measures.
Mr Musarara said GMAZ constituted a costs review technical committee to thoroughly interrogate the costing of prices before making the decision.
A 20 kilogram bag of roller meal will now cost US$34.77 from US$30.77 while a 50 kilogram bag of bakers’ flour will fetch US$189.70.
A 2kg value white rice is now costing US$13.98 from 11.65 last week.
GMAZ said the agreed margins, as contained in the signed memorandum of agreement with Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) had been used to compute the maximum recommended retail price for both mealie meal and rice.
