ith serious
consequences for people who are HIV positive.
Virtually no one can produce maize meal at the controlled prices and
all maize meal is now being produced secretly and distributed only via
clandestine systems – many firms are buying this product for their
staff and giving them a weekly ration. Those who do not have this facility are
simply going without or relying on relatives in the rural areas to send them
maize which they then custom mill. The capacity for this is very limited.
Although cooking oil prices have been allowed to rise, the new prices
are still below cost and this is keeping all fats and oils off the market.
This is an essential component of urban and rural diets. I see no action on
this front by any of the UN agencies or international Embassies.
This is surely a situation that must be urgently addressed. It is
tantamount to urban genocide on a huge scale and is driving people out of the
country in record numbers. It can be reversed very quickly by simply restoring
the ability of the private sector to manufacture, pack and distribute food.
Under present conditions this is impossible.
Eddie Cross
3rd August 2007
Post published in: News